When the first two phasesof the redevelopment were carried out the trees planted in the streets were protected with metal tree railings. All the trees planted on those two phases are still there and growing well.

When the final phase was started the trees were planted, but no protection was installed. In some streets virtually all the trees have disappeared. I have personally seen a contractor working for the developers deliberately and repeatedly ram a tree with his van until the tree snapped off at the base and he then proceeded to plant on top of it. Despite my reporting this it would seem that no attempt has been made to make the contractor pay for the replacement of the tree. These trees do not arrive for free. Each one arrives at a cost of around £300.

I have heard of people cutting trees down with an axe because “they were in the way”. Most recently a tree was sawn down in Patey Street in the early hours of a Sunday morning. When the group of men cutting the tree were approached they said that they needed the tree for a bonfire. Excuse me! You do not go out into the street and cut down a tree just because you want some firewood. I hope they are caught and made to pay the full cost of replacing the tree.

It is the planting season again for trees and consideration is being given to replacing all the trees that have been deliberately cut down, knocked down or snapped off. This time they will be given protection like the trees on the first two phases.

Check out the Tree Council web site for more information about trees and how important they are for the environment.

Another good web site is Trees for Cities. Here is what they say about Manchester.