Selective Indignation

In Sheffield's streets the chain-saw approach to trees is the subject of bitter controversy, some of which is a sincere and heartfelt indignation from residents appalled at the removal of familiar roadside trees; some is also cynical jumping on  a bandwagon for reasons of publicity and party-political point scoring. Among those organisations joining the fray are some who had opportunities long ago to comment and express concerns when the council first announced the Streets Ahead project; at that time they were notably silent.

Where are these people when beautiful woodland and upland trees need protection? These woodland spaces are favourites with those of us who love to get a little away from the beaten track. But hardly a tree in these pictures is safe from the robotic approach to woodland management: 'the more you cut the better'; the better for whom?

 Presumably it's jobs again.

If you stop felling trees what does the tree feller do?
If you stop grazing sheep what does the sheep grazier do?
If you stop using barbed wire what does the barbed wire manufacturer do?

If you stop planning intrusive interventions what does the landscape manager do?
And if you reduce the prescriptive management what does the university department do when we need to train fewer qualified managers?