The Edinburgh Reporter

Trees to be trampled?

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There are 30 trees on Ocean Way under threat if the plans for Trams to Newhaven are not altered.

Local resident, Ruth Buckle, told a meeting of the local community council that the boulevard will be lost, even if the Trams to Newhaven team replace them in the locality on a 2:1 basis, which is what is promised.

She said: "We have lived here for 15 years, we saw the trees being planted, and we watched them grow.

"They're a fantastic amenity for everybody in the locale. I just don't see why it's reasonable for the trams to cut them down. I don't see the justificat­ion and I don't understand why they need the space given that there's a huge space on Stevedore Place."

Tim Threlfall, an artist based in Leith, believes it is also debatable whether the trees do need to be removed.

He has begun a project with schoolchil­dren who have written short stories about each of the trees. A story is now pinned to every tree has its own name and tale to tell. The first tree is called Skyleaf and you can find it at /// breath.skin.wheels on the app what3words.

Evie H, aged 9. wrote the story abut Skyleaf: "Hello, my name is Skyleaf. I love seeing in the morning kids coming to school, and on the way they always give me huggles down the road. I breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen for the humans. Lots of insects come and visit me and live in me. There is lots of wildlife that I see every day like Freia the fox, Birdy the bird (he is a blue tit), Gary the grey squirrel and Hatty the hedgehog at night.

"The future is depending on us trees, but people are cutting us down. I would like more insects living on me."

Read more on Page 3 about another green space in Edinburgh which is also in danger.

 ?? PHOTO © 2020 The Edinburgh Reporter ?? Bill, Charlotte and Ruth Buckle with their dog Honey at Ocean Way
PHOTO © 2020 The Edinburgh Reporter Bill, Charlotte and Ruth Buckle with their dog Honey at Ocean Way

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