as i flipped through the liverpool daily post on my lunch hour today, i was horrified to see the picture of a very bare canada boulevard that previously was home to 54 trees. since i moved here in july 2005, this is *always* where i went when i felt homesick. this was not only the place now dedicated to fallen countrymen during WWII, but i felt i could breath some canadian air from those maples. it was also right in front of the three graces - including the liver buildings - where my family left liverpool just over 40 years ago.
liverpool city council decided to cut down *all* of the trees and i'll let you read the story for yourself on the liverpool daily post website. i'm sure that someone at the canadian high commission did give the okay, but did they consult veteran affairs? how would the people of holland feel if we suddenly decided that all the tulips they planted in ottawa to thank canadian soldiers were going to be replaced by roses because we thought they would survive longer?
granted the specie of maple may not have been suited for the environment, but it doesn't sound as though they were properly cared for either. the right soil and amount of watering will keep any plant healthy and you would think with so few green spaces in the city centre - and the ones that do exist being overrun by drunks and junkies - liverpool city council would have taken the time and energy to care for these trees.
as it reads on the plaque "This boulevard of maple trees is dedicated as a living memorial to the sacrifice, valour and industry of Canadians in the defence of freedom during the Battle of the Atlantic 1939-1945 and in recognition of the special relationship that developed between Canada and the City of Liverpool during those dark days. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of allied victory in Europe. Dedicated 15th May 1995. Lest we forget."
it's not exactly a living memorial anymore though is it?
i'm sure i'm not the only one angered by this move by the liverpool crappy council - and yes, i do pay my national *and* council tax - and i'm hoping this news story isn't going to die out. i've already sent an e-mail to the post and intend to send one to the council as well.
thankfully, i did spend a sunny time with janine and carole on canada boulevard when they were visiting and there's a picture underneath the archive links on the blog.
i'll try and get down there to get a few pics...it was the picture that made me really upset, tears in my eyes and it wasn't because i was eating onions.
About Me
- lauren
- Liverpool, United Kingdom
- easy sundays, listening to the cbc, good books, drinking good booze, eating great food, pretending i'm a guitar star, magnetic poetry, dougie, making choices, loving people, organisation, swimming in lakes, arts camp, pekoras, beer in pitchers, jumping on beds, making snow angels, watching hockey, write, painting, thank you cards, music and more music, family time, smiling nieces and nephews, laughing grandparents, whimsical thoughts, dreaming, thunderstorms, dark chocolate, whisky, making connections, PENGUINS, solitude, company
copyright j9
4 comments:
and i forgot to mention that they did it on COMMONWEALTH DAY which was yesterday.
idiots. absolute IDIOTS!
*ahem*
xoxo
One has to question the lack of smarts displayed by the Council here. I'm sure that the cost of "properly" caring for the trees would be dwarfed by the cost of chopping them down and having to source and plant new trees.
No wonder council tax bills are rising faster than inflation...
From the article it sounds like part of the reason for felling the trees was to gain access for the pier head improvements and they are taking this opportunity to replace the existing trees with Norwegian maples.
My point being that perhaps they can be convinced that instead of taking this opportunity to replace the trees, they could take this opportunity to modify the layout of the trees such that when Canadian Maples are returned maintaining them is easier. ie watering by hand is not necessary etc.
Excuse my ignorance but how would you know the difference between a Canadian and Norwegian maple ;-)
I think most people in Liverpool wouldn't know? Was this the council's plan? They didn’t count on you Lauren :-)
Sof
it's definitely an access thing. i went down there this morning to have a look for myself. they *needed* to cut down one side of the boulevard to build everyone's favorite building: the museum of liverpool.
the other side, however, could have definitely stayed put for the time being. i'm all for heartier trees being planted, but you could have left those up in the interim.
i'm sure that if they weren't doing the instruction on the pier head, the trees would have stayed put and not thrived.
anyway, check out the pics.
xp
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