Helmut Rathe, a retired Nigel horticulturist, writes:
Drive around the suburbs of Nigel. You will be shocked to see how many sidewalk trees have been harshly pruned or chopped down. How many have been planted or replaced?
Trees are nature’s air conditioners. Trees absorb carbon dioxide through their leaves and through the process of photosynthesis, they produce oxygen, making the air we breathe so much cleaner. They counteract the effects of urban pollution and global warming. They also provide nitrogen to the soil.
Trees moderate the visual landscape. They beautify our streets and provide shade and shelter for wildlife (imagine a barren town without trees)!
Parks and trees are the showpiece of a city, and trees, architecture and open spaces are the basic complimentary elements of urban design.
Trees, rather than buildings, are the best measure of a civilised landscape. It takes 10 years and more to produce a reasonably sized tree. Tree men spend their lives looking for the right tree suitable for a particular space.
Trees are the friend of man and with trees, people should band together against the unwholesome ugliness of most towns and cities.
The City of Johannesburg has been awarded the city with the most trees in the world. What an achievement!
The evaluation of a tree is determined by the Helliwell system, whereby certain characteristics of a tree are calculated to determine its value.
Horticultural and arboricultural principles should be the maintenance and tree-caring guidelines.
Sidewalk trees are planted at great expense and are not to be hacked down at a later stage. Most importantly, do not remove the crown of the tree, especially not during the summer months. The crown protects the inner branches and growth. A tree pruned like this will eventually die.
The Minister of Environment, Fisheries and Tourism Barbara Creecy recently re-acknowledged the importance of trees and the need for trees to be protected and saw that legislation was passed to protect certain tree species. It is a pity she did not include more species to protect our towns from being turned into deserts.
Damaging or destroying sidewalk trees is an offence punishable by a fine, or six months in prison, or both.
I have a very sincere concern about the well-being and maintenance and caring for our trees and make an earnest plea – Don’t find a reason for a tree to be removed.
