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#241 Midnightly

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Posted 16 July 2019 - 10:38 PM

Good for an afternoon nap? More like afternoon heroin coma

 

thats sort of what i was thinking... no way would i nap under that tree.. not unless i want my wallet stolen



#242 Mike K.

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Posted 29 July 2019 - 10:58 AM

🔹Victoria’s “Harry Potter Tree” to be removed🔹

Former City of Victoria councillor Pamela Madoff has raised the alarm over a planned removal of a dwarf and oddly contorted horse chestnut tree along Dallas Road (near the entrance to Fonyo Beach), which has become a landmark of sorts among James Bay residents and visitors to the area who have dubbed it as the Harry Potter Tree.

Here’s what Madoff has to say:

“Many folks, and in particular children, love this dwarfed and contorted horse chestnut tree on Dallas Road, near the model yacht pond. In spite of the fact that its importance was pointed out, at the design stage of the sewage treatment conveyance pipe, to both the CRD Wastewater Project Team and City of Victoria staff, it is scheduled to be removed. At the time of the presentation CRD and City staff both acknowledged the desire to retain what has come to be known as a little piece of magic in the city - and to what has become known, to some children, as the Harry Potter tree.”

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#243 aastra

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Posted 29 July 2019 - 11:22 AM

 

In spite of the fact that its importance was pointed out, at the design stage of the sewage treatment conveyance pipe, to both the CRD Wastewater Project Team and City of Victoria staff, it is scheduled to be removed. At the time of the presentation CRD and City staff both acknowledged the desire to retain what has come to be known as a little piece of magic in the city...

 

Yet another tree removal controversy playing out according to the template...



#244 Jackerbie

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Posted 29 July 2019 - 11:24 AM

Capture.PNG

 

This tree, I assume?

 

FWIW, the most well known tree in Harry Potter is the Whomping Willow, which is a magical tree known to attack anyone who approaches it.



#245 Mike K.

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Posted 29 July 2019 - 11:28 AM

No, further to the left of your photo. It’s the angled tree that “touches you” as you cycle past it.

There’s a photo on our FB page. I’d post it but I’m on mobile for a little bit.

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#246 mbjj

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Posted 29 July 2019 - 03:29 PM

The leaning chestnut which many of us have known our entire lives, going back to the 1950s and beyond. I can't think of anything printable to say in response to this.



#247 Mike K.

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Posted 29 July 2019 - 03:32 PM

It's been around since at least the 1930's, it looks like.

 

tree.jpg


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#248 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 30 July 2019 - 11:11 AM

it’s kind of ugly.

#249 mbjj

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Posted 30 July 2019 - 02:37 PM

I don't find it ugly at all. My parents used to drive me by when I was a kid so I could see it. I think every kid loves it because it's so unusual. Judging by the photos of where the pipe is going, it seems under the middle of the road, so I don't know why the tree needs to go.



#250 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 30 July 2019 - 03:30 PM

maybe the city can take a limb from it and propagate a clone.  or whatever.

 

#idontknowhowtreeswork


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#251 On the Level

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Posted 30 July 2019 - 06:36 PM

It's just the natural evolution of Victoria moving from a "Garden City" to one of middle aged men in spandex riding bicycles.


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#252 aastra

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Posted 23 September 2019 - 08:50 AM

Copied from another thread:

 

 

Times-Colonist
September 22, 2019

The City of Victoria has pledged to plant 5,000 trees by the end of 2020 as part of a United Nations challenge...

 

I'm just hoping 5,001 existing mature trees (or 10,000, or 50,000) won't need to be cut down in order to make way for those 5,000 new trees.

From the city's Urban Forest Master Plan:

 

 

Challenges:

- Low levels of tree cover in large areas of the city;
- An aging street tree population that lacks diversity (many street trees plantings are even-aged, over-mature and single-specied);
- Conflicts with the built environment (including underground infrastructure and new development);
- Increased densification leading to mature tree loss and the erosion of available greenspace for future urban forest;
- Species at risk, degradation of natural areas and loss of sensitive ecosystems;
- Emerging climate change impacts; and
- A constrained fiscal environment for local government and taxpayers

 

The bolded bits could have been excerpted from pretty much any city's tree management documentation, FYI. They're all telling the same story, regardless of where the city happens to be located or how old the city happens to be.

 

 

In areas where there are significant amounts of tree cover, it will be challenging to maintain these levels in the short- to mid-term. This is because a significant fraction of Victoria’s urban forest is getting elderly... The City’s street tree resource is particularly vulnerable to this demographic "bubble". As this aging trend progresses, older trees will be replaced with young specimens at an accelerating rate. This will result in a temporary reduction in over canopy levels for a time, increasing again as this new cohort of trees matures.

 

*****

 

The same story is being told in myriad different cities and towns. Some examples from earlier in this thread:

 

 

Postcard-pretty block in downtown Lakeland (Florida) to lose half of tree canopy

Feb 25, 2019

Lovely canopy aside, the roots of the two Oriental sweetgum trees, planted about 30 years ago, are causing too much damage as they snake their way into water lines, and uproot sidewalk pavers.

New trees will be planted in their place — ones hopefully more conducive to urban life. The replacement trees on the city’s downtown tree replacement plan — yep, that exists — is the Michelia alba, a magnolia tree also known as a white champaca, but the city may go another route...

“I really don’t want to take out all four of them at the same time because you lose the whole tree canopy at one time. ... I just don’t want to destroy the character of the street in one week,”

...the executive director of the Lakeland Downtown Development Authority, said it’s not ideal to lose the trees, but it’s less ideal to lose essential infrastructure on a regular basis.

“There’s multiple layers of frustration, there’s frustration the trees are breaking water lines,” she said, and “it’s frustrating the trees drop these little seed pods that are a tripping hazard. It’s frustrating we have to cut them down and plant new teeny tiny trees that will take 30 years to provide shade.”

Townsend said she thinks the city has done what it can do to save the trees as long as possible, trimming back roots and digging up the streetscaping.

On the bright side, metaphorically if not literally, the taller buildings on both sides of the block will continue to keep it shady, she said.

“I’m a big proponent of the right tree at the right place,”

 

*****

 

 

Feb 22, 2019 - Thousands of our (UK) trees are being felled in the name of health and safety

Sudden oak death, Dutch elm disease, box moths, plane wilt, ash dieback and sweet chestnut blight: a swarm of invasive predators have beset Britain’s trees...

But who would have thought that the biggest pest of all... would turn out to be local councils?

Thousands of prime urban trees have been slashed down... No less than 110,000 in just three years.

The Yorkshire city’s Labour council agreed for 17,500 street trees to be felled as part of a highways improvement scheme. It argued that the trees facing the chop were either dangerous, dying or had roots that were damaging pavements and roads...

Sheffield is not the worst offender. Newcastle has so far destroyed many more, butchering almost 8,500 trees in three years... The council trotted out the usual line that the trees are only cut "for good reason or necessity", and that replanting schemes are carried out. What makes me really laugh is the idea that these councils are replanting more "manageable" trees.

 

*****

 

 

Feb 26, 2019 - Upset Binney Park (Greenwich, CT) Neighbors Vocal on Fate of 20 Trees, Mostly Crab Apples

Most of those in attendance said they were neighbors of Binney Park objecting to the removal of the trees.

 

Many said they were caught unawares about the Binney Park Master Plan, much less the removal of so many trees....

 

...the trees were not well suited for the climate. The soil in that area is soggy, and often wet. The idea is to get some more suitable trees for the future of Binney Park.

...there is a list of trees being researched that can tolerate wet soil.

...neighbor Robert Sibley asked why, of all the improvements needed in Binney Park, was tree removal a first priority?

"Why now?" he asked. "Most of the trees are still alive if not healthy." He said there were other things in the park that need work. "The fields are horrendous and full of crabgrass. There are mini ponds that result from bad drainage. Walkways were supposed to have been improved two or three years ago."

There were tree experts who verified their health, that it was a monoculture, and not suitable for the climate going forward...

 

If you were to remove the place names and the tree varieties you wouldn't be able to tell these stories apart. Same template for all, whether from the UK or Florida or the northeast or the northwest or southern California or etc.


Edited by aastra, 23 September 2019 - 08:51 AM.


#253 Mike K.

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Posted 23 September 2019 - 08:52 AM

Maybe they just re-write each other’s reports.

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#254 aastra

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Posted 23 September 2019 - 09:17 AM

Earlier in this thread, somebody said:

 

 

Imagine that. Critics in San Francisco say the authorities have a chopping fetish that seems to contradict espoused "green" principles. Now where have we heard that before?*

 

*absolutely everywhere

 

September 9, 2019 - Clearwater, Florida
 

 

The issue that had the crowd so riled up? Trees. More specifically, the city’s plans to remove about 155 trees from Crest Lake Park as part of a $6.4 million park redesign

...the city planned to replant at least 155 trees in the redesigned park to make up for the ones that will be taken away.

Beth Davis, a Clearwater resident who brought a sign to the association meeting that read "plant 2x what you remove," was concerned about the city’s track record of replanting trees.

Many attendees were unmoved by the city’s arguments. Several expressed concern about the climate implications of cutting down trees...

The perception of bad faith on the part of the city was so strong that the meeting's planners had to beat back unfounded speculation that the gathering’s time was changed... at the last minute in order to make attendance less likely.

"If anybody thinks that (city staff) have just come up with this plan to trick you or deceive you, you’re not being honest with yourself," (Mayor) Cretekos said.


Edited by aastra, 23 September 2019 - 09:18 AM.


#255 aastra

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Posted 23 September 2019 - 09:30 AM

This story from DC might be enlightening for some:

 

Save eight old trees? Or build more affordable housing? A D.C. development dilemma.

Washington Post - September 19, 2019

 

 

The eight majestic willow oaks flourished for decades... Still healthy, strong and thick-trunked, these eight sentinels of D.C.'s turbulent history — among the finest urban heritage trees in the city — will be lumber soon.

These are heritage trees, after all. That means, according to a law enacted in 2016, these babes get special status because their girth is at least 100 inches around.

The trees are being removed to make way for more condos and apartments, yes. But this is also about affordable housing. Not a ton of affordable housing, but ideally enough to house 122 of the families who were displaced when the notorious housing complex that stood there... was razed.

...council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), who helped write the heritage tree law, tried to introduce legislation this week that would give Toll Brothers a special hall pass to cut the trees in exchange for a fine.

...efforts to redesign the previously approved siting of the buildings would result in construction immediately next to the trees, likely endangering their health and reducing the number of housing units being created.

"The creation of much needed affordable housing is paramount for our city and community," Allen wrote.

The good news? The developers paid a $270,000 fine into the city’s tree fund, and those eight trees will become lumber...

The bad news? It’ll be at least another 20 years before anyone moving into those fancy new places will have a big, sprawling patch of shade to relax in.

(aastra says: at least 20 years? Try doubling or even tripling that before you'll have anything close to "a big, sprawling patch of shade".)



#256 aastra

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Posted 23 September 2019 - 11:19 AM

Maybe they just re-write each other’s reports.

 

Or maybe Victoria and St. Albert, Alberta are just very similar cities? Similar climate, population and population density, development patterns...*

 

*no resemblance whatsoever

 

 

 

from "Urban Forest Management Plan" (city of St. Albert, 2017)

Optimal Canopy Cover

St. Albert's overall canopy cover is about 13 per cent, including recently acquired undeveloped lands on the western boundary. As noted earlier, however, this cover is not evenly distributed across the City. Some neighbourhoods (such as Kingswood, North Ridge, and Jensen Lakes) have less than 10 per cent canopy cover.
 
In areas where there are significant amounts of tree cover, it will be challenging to maintain these levels in the short- to mid-term.

This is because a significant fraction of St. Albert's urban forest is believed to be mature or over mature. (True age distribution will be calculated after a comprehensive inventory is completed.) This applies to street trees in older subdivisions. As this aging trend progresses, older trees will be replaced with younger specimens at an accelerated rate.

This will result in a temporary reduction in canopy levels, increasing as the new trees mature.

In response to this challenge, the city has increased its street-tree replanting program (missing trees program). Planting empty tree sites on boulevards is one of the easiest ways to maintain tree cover, diversify the age structure and species, and increase the resilience of the urban forest.

 

 

from "Urban Forest Master Plan" (city of Victoria, 2013)

Optimal Canopy Cover

Victoria's overall canopy cover is about 18%. As noted earlier, however, this cover is not evenly distributed across the city. Some neighbourhoods (such as Rock Bay, Harris Green, Burnside, and North Park) have less than 10% canopy cover.

In areas where there are significant amounts of tree cover, it will be challenging to maintain these levels in the short- to mid-term.

This is because a significant fraction of Victoria's urban forest is getting elderly (see Age Distribution below). The City's street tree resource is particularly vulnerable to this demographic "bubble". As this aging trend progresses, older trees will be replaced with young specimens at an accelerating rate.

This will result in a temporary reduction in over canopy levels for a time, increasing again as this new cohort of trees matures.

In response to this challenge, the City has recently increased its street tree replanting program. Planting empty tree sites on boulevards is one of the easiest ways to maintain tree cover, diversify the age structure and species, and increase the resilience of the urban forest.


Edited by aastra, 23 September 2019 - 01:16 PM.


#257 Victoria Watcher

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Posted 16 October 2019 - 02:55 PM

Victoria city council is accelerating plans to save the city’s trees and prevent residents from rushing to chop them down before tougher regulations take effect.

 

Councillors initially agreed last month to protect any tree with a trunk diameter over 60 centimetres instead of the previous 80 centimetres.

 

Last week, however, they decided to go even further and reduce the size of protected trees to anything over 30 centimetres.

 

https://www.timescol...rees-1.23977879

 

 

 

 

 

City of Victoria limits protected tree circumference to 30 cm or more

 

The change was originally anticipated to go from 80 cm down to 60 cm

 

The City of Victoria plans to further restrict protected trees to include those with a trunk circumference of 30 cm or more at a height of 1.4 m.

 

https://www.vicnews....-30-cm-or-more/

 

 

 

 

 

 

somebody needs a geometry lesson. (hint:  it's the black press writer)

 

 

 

 

 

city of victoria website:

 

Q. How do I determine the diameter of a tree?
A. The diameter of a tree is measured at 1.4 metres above the ground. It can be determined by dividing the circumference by 3.142.

[back to top]

Q. Which trees are protected under this Bylaw?
A. The following native species are protected:

Over 50 cm in height

  • Garry Oak Quercus garryana
  • Arbutus Arbutus menziesii
  • Pacific Dogwood Cornus nuttalii
  • Pacific Yew Taxus brevifolia

Over 60 cm in diameter at breast height

  • Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata
  • Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
  • Big Leaf Maple Acer macrophyllum

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 October 2019 - 02:59 PM.


#258 Nparker

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Posted 16 October 2019 - 03:01 PM

My favourite part of the above article: "The message, Young said, is that “you cannot trust us [CoV council] to actually make a decision and stick with it."



#259 Jackerbie

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Posted 16 October 2019 - 03:12 PM

FWIW, "protected" simply means that you need a permit to remove it. Richmond "protects" all trees over 20 cm DBH.



#260 Rob Randall

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Posted 16 October 2019 - 04:28 PM

"King Arthur! That's a fine Round Table. Who crafted it?

"Sir Cumference!"


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