Green Southwark

[helenlaker@southwark]

I work for Southwark council, and regularly seek out opinions from the public about issues which will be included in the topics of debate in their Council Assembly, which is open to Southwark residents to attend.

Next month, they are going to talk about Sustainable tansport and the environment. Is there anything you would like to talk about with me on that subject?

I have a few questions for you -

What would encourage you to walk and cycle more?

Do you think Southwark is more biologically diverse than it was 10 years ago?

What do Southwark's parks mean to you?

[alice]

What does biologically diverse mean to you?

[uncleglen]

Judging by the proliferation of 4x4s the green thing has passed a lot of people by. The shops are still giving out plastic bags like there is an infinite amount of oil available, people are still breeding like rabbits and I truly despair. Every year we get fined by the EU for breaching pollution levels and yet every year our population increases so there is no chance we will ever avoid the fine.

If i want to travel on a train at the weekend I can guarantee that it will be replaced by a bus, or I will have to stand on the tube if I go out in the evening.

No wonder London was voted the worst place to live- didn't surprise me

[StraferJack]

"No wonder London was voted the worst place to live- didn't surprise me"

in what - "Crap Towns Return"?

Let's not question that source then...

[edhistory]

uncleglen Wrote:

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> The shops are

> still giving out plastic bags like there is an

> infinite amount of oil available

You may find that some "plastic" bags are now corn starch bags.

John K

[uncleglen]

Wow- which ones and are they edible?

[The Minkey]

Encouragement to walk or cycle places? Mobility issues mean I largely rely on public transport.

Biologically diverse? In the 7 years I've lived here, a huge number of empty plots, including the little park that used to exist on the corner of Ivydale and Merttin's Road have been built over, so I'd hazard a guess and say it's possibly less diverse than it was.

Southwark's Parks? Fabulous community assets.

[uncleglen]

There are more trees in the streets and they are of various species now. I must say though that the ones that drop the orange fruits look a bit dangerous on the ground.

[helenlaker@southwark]

Thank you, I appreciate your comments - biologically diverse means to me, that there are more varities of plants, and that the birds and wildlife are starting to come back - sparrows, for instance, especially when people are more aware of letting some wildflowers grow in their plant pots.

[sheemy]

StraferJack Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> "No wonder London was voted the worst place to

> live- didn't surprise me"

>

> in what - "Crap Towns Return"?

>

> Let's not question that source then...

I would agree that London is one of the worst places to live in the UK and this is from personal experience. However, I have lived in some very nice places.

[BrandNewGuy]

helenlaker@southwark Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thank you, I appreciate your comments -

> biologically diverse means to me, that there are

> more varities of plants, and that the birds and

> wildlife are starting to come back - sparrows, for

> instance, especially when people are more aware of

> letting some wildflowers grow in their plant pots.

It would help if the Council had a policy of planting native trees. Many non-natives might look pretty but have nowhere near the diversity of insect life, fungi etc that are essential for diversity. I think the Council has expressed a preference for planting native trees "wherever appropriate", but every tree planted in our road in the last few years has been non-native. I'm surprised that the London Wildlife Trust, which collaborates with the Council on tree-planting strategy, seem to be happy with this.

[fl0wer]

BrandNewGuy,

I agree with you. I think you will find that the Wildlife Trust were not consulted at the time of choosing the trees. To your point I will add that native grasses and small shrubs are equally important.

The Council's own Tree Officers learned their trade a while ago, and accept advice from horticulturalists, for several reasons.

One is that climate change is forcing professionals to advise species which are more resistant to disease. E.g. chestnuts being planted now are from a moth-repelling strain, I believe it's Japanese. (OK, I know neither the Horse nor the Sweet Chestnut are true native species, but they've been here a good few centuries.)

Furthermore, sappy weak-limbed tree growth is a consequence of extreme weather, and root habits have to be considered, wherever the old municipal drainpipes are already under strain.

Another is council bargain hunting, if they employ particular landscape firms and nursery garden suppliers. These will be offering competitive rates for doing the work. Sometimes 'deals' dictate what is available.(And yes, I know that the Woodland Trust offer young native trees for free, and every gardener could be cherishing seedlings and striking cuttings, but try telling that to a town planner.)

Thirdly, the current generation of councillors has, like everyone else since WW2 unless they were taught at home, received a poor education re: the natural world. & only recently do humans start taking account of the disastrous impact we're having on biodiversity. Having said this, it's almost impossible for anyone to be an expert, except in a very narrow field of study, because biodiversity and ecology are complex sciences. This suits certain types of industrialist and tilts university learning towards specialism, so that people get compartmentalised, fragmented, and ultimately marginalised if they care. We rise to positions of power through a cut-throat system, not a system which promotes 'green' and 'inclusive' action as the norm.