Bunkum about trees

Published: 28 April, 2011

• WHY do they make lovely spring trees look so ugly, asks Clare Shanks (April 14).

For several years now I have been asking this question, too, together with associated ones of: Why do they deprive us of the oxygen they give? Why do they cut at the time when birds are nesting?

I have spoken to councillors and I even met the previous head of the tree section who gave me a justification, which seemed so unlikely that I called the Arboricultural Association whose technical adviser confirmed my suspicion that it was bunkum. 

At first I thought perhaps Camden was saving money by employing tree surgeons when they were not busy and therefore cheap.

Now I think the reason may be more cynical, and this would explain the seemingly illogical work, Clare Shanks mentions. 

And that is that Camden are supplying the private companies doing the work with the maximum amount of best quality compost material at the expense of our trees! 

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED, NW3