Latest news with #treeprotection
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Homeowner distraught as neighbor's construction project causes devastating losses: 'Can be worth thousands'
A neighbor's construction has left a homeowner distraught after causing significant damage to their property. Posting on Reddit, the homeowner shared that the neighbor has recently started construction on a new development which had extended across the property line and damaged six to seven mature trees. "A certified arborist has confirmed that the trees are now dead," wrote the homeowner, after explaining that the building works had left the roots of the trees exposed. The homeowner, located in Boston, wanted advice on what to do next and to ensure they were educated on their rights before speaking to local lawyers. The homeowner received lots of replies that stated the neighbors could be liable for thousands of dollars due to strict laws on tree damage in Massachusetts. "In some states, the value of mature trees can be tripled in damages. You're not talking about saplings here, big trees can be worth thousands," one commenter wrote. "Massachusetts has treble damages for trees. Was a practicing arborist in the Boston area for years," added another. Trees provide several important ecological and societal benefits that younger trees do not, so protecting them is critical for reaping these benefits. Trees help provide cleaner air and improved water quality, support biodiversity by providing a home for various wildlife, and they even have a positive impact on human health and well-being. Protecting trees and planting new ones can also help to cool areas down as they help regulate the climate and provide shade from the sun. This is particularly important as global temperatures continue to rise because of human-induced climate change. One study found that trees can reduce the summer temperature in European cities by up to 12 °C, as per the New Scientist. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that people have reached out for help regarding difficult neighbors, especially when it comes to climate-friendly improvements. Maintaining a friendly and open relationship with your neighbors can make it easier to prevent challenges like these, but knowing your rights and keeping records of instances are also important in case situations escalate. How much money do you plan to spend on home improvement projects this year? Under $1K $1K to $5K $5K to $10K Over $10K Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the the daily Crossword
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Jersey trees need better protection, environmentalist says
An environmentalist wants politicians to introduce a tree protection law in Jersey, after videos of trees being cut down in St Martin were shared Brockie said she "felt sick" watching the videos of UK contractors working at Fliquet. The videos have since been removed from social environment minister has promised greater protection for the island's trees in future, but said the work was properly authorised and did not breach any planning or wildlife laws.A tree surgeon co-ordinating the project defended the work. He said the videos took efforts to restore land - after it was devastated by Storm Ciaran - out of context. The contractors have been approached for comment. Ms Brockie said she did not believe the work at Fliquet was a reforestation project. She said it looked like "every single piece of nature that lived on that land has been decimated completely"."It still makes me feel very anxious that this is allowed to happen," she said it was an example of what could happen to trees in Jersey without tighter 2024, efforts to introduce a tree protection law were scrapped by the States Assembly, following criticism that the proposals were too strict. Joel Freire was the Jersey tree surgeon who co-ordinated the work at Fliquet. He said it was a shame the videos had been received "in the wrong way" by the public, although he sympathised with some of the said the UK contractors were hired to carry out the toughest parts of the job and the work shown in the video was removal of unsafe trees and mulching of vegetation to eradicate invasive said: "What the client's done has restored an amazing part of Jersey and left it to recover."It wasn't that it was for development or anything like that, it was purely to reinstate it as it should be." Mr Freire said, for the most part, the island has many measures in place to make sure trees are looked after, such as wildlife trigger lists required under the wildlife law. He said politicians did not need to introduce any new laws, but they did need to sufficiently maintain and implement the island's protected tree register and communicate better with the industry."I think if there was a stronger relationship between government and the tree industry, there'd be much more protection," he added. Environment minister Deputy Steve Luce said officers from three different government departments had investigated the work at Fliquet and were satisfied the owners and contractors had operated within the island's said: "The owner, I think, has acted properly. He's put everything in place that he needed to do. "I'm sure he's got a plan moving forward and I'm sure in a number of years' time it will look beautiful again." He said he was expanding the members on the States' tree advisory board and asking them to come up with new plans to further protect trees in said the tree listing process was currently "a bit clunky" as it did not work particularly quickly and did not have enough trees on he said he wanted to find a different solution to the previous tree law proposals that would have required the removal of "just about every tree" on the island to have a planning application. Chair of the environment scrutiny panel Deputy Hilary Jeune said she wanted ministerial work to protect Jersey trees completed as quickly as possible, preferably before the end of the current political said until the work was finished, trees were not being protected as well as they should be."There could be some irreversible damage done to trees right now," she urged the minister to learn lessons from the previous tree protection legislation and to be as thorough as possible going forward.
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Parking spot you don't want to put car in during hot weather – it's ‘the worst thing you can do' & could cost you £1800
EXPERTS have warned of a parking spot you should steer clear of in hot weather. With temperatures set to ramp up to 30C again towards the end of the week, drivers may be tempted to park cars under shady trees, to stop them from overheating. 2 And although this may seem like a smart idea, Kazimieras Urbonas, Supplier Excellence Manager at Ovoko revealed that this could actually be the worst place to park your vehicle. Tree sap damage The car expert explained that if you park your motor under a tree it could get covered in tree sap or bird droppings. And although this may not seem like the worst problem, it could lead to thousands of pounds worth of damage. Kazmieras revealed that the sap and droppings will not only make your car look dirty, it will also likely damage the bodywork of your vehicle. He added that this could also affect the value of your motor, meaning that it will be worth less when you want to sell it on. The expert explained: "Most people don't realise that parking under trees can actually be one of the worst things you can do for your car's paintwork. 'What seems like a convenient, shaded spot can lead to damage that affects both the appearance and value of your vehicle.' More of a problem during summer Tree sap poses a greater risk in the summer months, as trees produce more of the substance during this time, and the hot weather bakes the sap on to cars. It is a good idea to regularly inspect your car during the summer months, to check for any damage from tree sap. Removing the sap as soon as you notice it will help to reduce the possibility of long term damage. Kazmieras added: 'Tree sap doesn't just sit on the surface. "It actually penetrates the clear coat and can cause permanent staining. "In hot weather, the sap becomes more corrosive and can eat through the protective layers of your paintwork.' How to remove tree sap If the damage to your car isn't particularly severe, you can remove if yourself using household products such as rubbing alcohol, WD-40, or cooking oil. To use these products, simply apply them to a micro-fibre cloth, and then gently rub the affected area. Make sure to wash the product off with water, and then reapply wax or sealant to protect the paint. However, if the damage is more severe, you may have to pay a professional to get the paint corrected, which could set you back as much as £1800. The expert added that bird droppings can also cause serious damage to vehicles. He said: "'The acidic nature of bird waste can cause immediate damage, especially when left in direct sunlight. "What starts as an unsightly mess can quickly become a permanent mark that requires expensive paint correction.'
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ancient woodland threatened by £156m Manadon upgrade in Plymouth
Trees in ancient woodland could be cut down and homes and gardens compulsorily purchased as part of a £156m scheme to improve a traffic City Council is consulting on plans to add new lanes on the approaches and exits of Manadon roundabout to the north of the city to increase protection campaigners are concerned that could mean cutting down trees in Manadon Wood and said there was a lack of trust in the council after it cut down more than 100 trees at night in Armada city council said it was negotiating with property owners about buying land and some trees would have to be felled but said it would plant new trees in their place. One of the proposals is to add another lane on the approach to the roundabout on the A386 Outland Road which runs alongside ancient Curno is a volunteer with Plymouth Tree People, a charity that works to protect and increase the number of trees in the said: "The council has said there will be a lot of trees that need to be removed and they will be doing a three-for-one replacement."Our worry is that doesn't value the trees as they are - so a little sapling might not need replacing whereas some of the ancient or veteran trees are much more valuable and the ancient woodland in particular is irreplaceable."Mr Curno said following the Armada Way tree-felling, trust in the council "does need to be built up".He said: "The Armada Way independent learning review stated that trust is the one thing the council needed to work on and this is the sort of scheme they can use to work on that trust." John Stevens, cabinet member for transport at the Labour-led council, said the council was consulting on all aspects of the scheme: "We have learned, we are a learning council."Stevens said some trees would have to be removed "inevitably" but the council would replace each tree lost with "at least three trees".Regarding the possibility of compulsory purchase orders on homes and land in the area to facilitate the project, Stevens said: "In all schemes where you're expecting improvements to lanes there might be the loss of some land but that wouldn't be against the will of the people who are actually living in them now."Plymouth City Council has £133m of funding from the Department for Transport to pay for the scheme and said it wanted to improve traffic flow for everyone passing through Manadon as the city expands. The effectiveness of the plans and the cost of the scheme are also being called into question by the Conservative councillor for the area, Chris said: "Plymouth does not have a very good track record of either financial management or project delivery."The amount of disruption residents are going to face for ten years - people losing their gardens, losing their houses as well."There's a lot of concern locally and we need to make sure the council are actually listening and can adapt the scheme to suit local people's needs."More information events will take place on Friday at Manadon Sports Hub and on Saturday at Central Library with the public consultation closing on 24 June.
The Independent
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Government urged to ‘list' precious trees for protection like historic buildings
Conservationists are calling for new laws to ensure important trees are 'listed' for protection, like historic buildings, in the wake of the Sycamore Gap trial. The call by the Woodland Trust to improve protection for thousands of trees that have important ecological, cultural and historical value comes after high-profile felling of landmark trees sparked public fury. Two men have been found guilty of felling the 'totemic' Sycamore Gap tree beside Hadrian's Wall in September 2023, in a case that drew international attention. And the Forestry Commission is assessing the felling of a 400-year-old oak in Whitewebbs Park, north London, in April, one of only about 100 oaks of that size in Greater London, which also sparked outrage. The Woodland Trust said that existing protections such as tree preservation orders and requirements for felling licences had limitations and exemptions, such as the type and location of trees protected, and called for better safeguards for the country's most precious trees. The charity wants the Government to back a proposed law that would 'list' heritage trees with exceptional historic, landscape, cultural or ecological importance, similar to the way historic buildings and monuments are listed or scheduled. Under the Heritage Trees Bill, put forward by Baroness Young in the House of Lords as a Private Members' Bill, a list of such trees would be created and maintained by a statutory agency. Trees on the list would have provisions ensuring their protection, requiring landowners and occupiers to advertise the tree's status and take steps to maintain and conserve it, and there would be additional or higher penalties for breaching new 'heritage tree preservation orders'. Adam Cormack, head of campaigns at the Woodland Trust, said the proposed law would provide 'a consistent level of protection, conservation and active stewardship for a listed group of trees'. Several thousand of the most important trees across England could be protected with the scheme, he said, while different legislation would need to be passed in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He highlighted work in Poland, where a 'green monuments' system preserves tens of thousands of trees, and a similar scheme in Romania. Mr Cormack also pointed to a survey after the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, which found 88% of people supported legislation to protect the most valuable trees. He said: 'Special trees provide a living backdrop to our national history and culture, as well as the stories and lives of our local communities, but they have few legal protections in the UK. 'Other European countries have recognised this with legislation in place to protect very old and important trees for their immense ecological, cultural and historical value.' His colleague Jack Taylor, project lead for woods under threat, added: 'There's a strong national identity behind ancient and veteran trees. 'We are not one of the most wooded countries across Europe, but we do have a really strong population of ancient and veteran trees, and that resonates with people. 'When you see trees like the Whitewebbs oak, it stops most people in their tracks.'
