From all corners of the land, a clamour for trees
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Your support makes all the difference.The decision on where the Independent on Sunday will plant its 750 trees will be announced next week. Meanwhile, letters still come in arguing the case for the five nominated sites - and several others.
The decision on where the Independent on Sunday will plant its 750 trees will be announced next week. Meanwhile, letters still come in arguing the case for the five nominated sites - and several others.
A strong case has been made for Shetland, where past agricultural practices, poor soil and strong winds mean trees are rare. "One of the pleasures of the English countryside that I miss most is the trees," writes Dr Russell Rarity, a consultant anaesthetist at Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick. "My daughters, aged four and six, count trees and trains as the most exciting things that they see when we go to the mainland. Many centuries ago Shetland was heavily wooded with birch, hazel, and willow. It would be wonderful if the IoS could recreate in part that long-forgotten land."
Neil Ramsay of Grimsby calls for the wood to be planted in north-east Lincolnshire. "We have loads of wide open space and some of UK's biggest manufacturers have moved into the south Humberside area," he says. "We have the largest concentration of gas turbine power stations in Europe. How about the trees on their sites?" The south coast has also put in a late bid. "Please consider planting your new forest in Portsmouth," writes Graham Farmer. "The city is on an island and therefore at risk of flooding as sea levels potentially rise from global warming, making our environmental education motives as strong as any in the land."
Robin Gow said he was "captivated" by the Forest of Avon project in Bristol. "It hits the mark in transforming an urban landscape," he says.
Andy Dickson voted for the Ballygomartin site in his home city of Belfast. "After reading in your paper of disappearing sparrows in London, I notice they've largely disappeared from Belfast, too. I'm sure it's connected to pollution. A new forest would help redress the balance," he writes.
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