ABSTRACT
Few can dispute that cities with street trees are much more attractive than those without. Nevertheless, street trees are virtually ignored in modern urban planning. There is firstly a short characterisation of their physical and biological nature. Benefits of street trees are then reviewed under the following headings: temperature reduction and shade, reduction in windspeed, hydrological effects, improvement in air quality, via pollutant interception, gaseous pollutants (O
interception, noise reduction, health benefits, cultural and community benefits. The disbenefits are then described under two headings: ‘old’ ecocentric (tree-centred) problems such as disease and minor nuisance value, and ‘new’ anthropocentric (built environment and danger to people) problems, such as damage to housing, buildings and services. Evidence from the popular media on recent street tree felling is provided. In the discussion section two methods of ensuring street tree survival, which sum up some of the above factors, are looked at: (1) the economic/ quantitative perspective; and (2) the political/sustainability perspective. Often trees are largely argued for in terms of their quantitative impact on particulate interception, climate amelioration or economic value, and argued against also in economic or health and safety terms, namely of cracks they may/may not make in house walls, ceilings etc. or injury to people, rather than in other terms such as their value as ‘inter-generational objects’ and objects of simple inspiration in people’s lives.
