Urban Tree Revival

What a difference a deer fence makes. Nothing but grasses and bracken surviving on the left. On the right, saplings are thriving - alder, oak, birch, hazel and a few Scots pine. Some planted but a lot of regen. Nearby old growth wood makes the latter possible.

Though not native to Ireland, this 100+ year old beech looks magnificent by the roadside. Lichens are growing on its bark and the shade tolerant native Holly is doing okay under its canopy. The fallen beechnuts will provide food for mice, jays, squirrels too. @LanesTree

Daffodil shoot in mid November... We're living within a rapidly changing biosphere. #ClimateEmergency

Planters are suitable for ornamental trees, their trees will never grow large as their roots are heavily restricted. They must be watered regularly with no access to the earth. The roads they appear on will never enjoy the many benefits offered by mature street trees.  

Some lovely use of chic rusting steel by @LimerickCouncil for these birch tree pits, providing space for other life, and most importantly some robust protection from street tree’s worse enemy, the omnipresent automobile.

Scots pine provide a - habitat for 15% of native plant species - food source for the red squirrel -home for many bird species They also looks spectacular along the road side. We would all benefit if this was a more common sight. @LanesTree #biodiversity

In many case trees are removed and never replaced. As shown by new paving below, or they’re often planted very sparsely in areas that could accommodate more But we won’t feel too sorry for residents on this road, as vast parts of Dublin have no trees dublininquirer.com/2016/04/2…

They are the “Drummondii’ cultivar of Norway Maple. Although widely planted in parts of Dublin, they are not the best performing street tree We need to ensure every street tree planted is the right tree and is cared for, and maximises benefits to citizens and our cities.

These trees were planted 25 years ago. On the balance none of them have done particularly well. Due to multiple factors, the best are doing only ok, many are struggling, and some are dead For 25yrs growth this is a wasted opportunity. Dublins tree canopy is v low.

One street, 4 maple trees and 4 very different outcomes. 1) tree stump left unreplaced for yrs after lorry accident 2) dead tree from repeated trauma by passing traffic 3)a resilient tree that has adapted following repeated traumas 4)relatively thriving tree,one of only two