Samira Shackle’s article (The long read, 24 October) describes the fight against Sheffield council’s extraordinary mismanagement of a plan to improve its street surfaces, and the fierce resistance against felling thousands of trees.
I am reminded of a remarkably sane solution that Hackney council came up with 20 years ago, when all the trees in our street were to be felled and replaced with saplings. Strong feelings among us, the residents, divided our community.
Following a campaign to save the trees, our council wisely decided that residents could choose what happened to the tree immediately outside each front door. The result, 20 years on, is that we have a glorious mix of old and new – and although the pavements show the passage of time, the surfaces have been repaired and walking to the shops under an autumn canopy is a delightful experience.
Mary Julian
Hackney, London
• Further to Samira Shackle’s excellent account of the battle to save Sheffield’s trees, readers can witness the entire sorry saga unfolding in The Felling, a powerful film. As one of the two older women arrested under a Rustlings Road tree, I thoroughly recommend it.
Jenny Hockey
Sheffield
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