Bob Gilbert
The urbanite discusses his mission to find out more about London’s street trees.
What are ‘ghost trees’?
There is a concept in ecology called the ‘ghost hedge’ – whilst some of our ancient hedgerows were created by planting, others came about as woodlands were cleared to make way for cultivation, leaving strips of the old growth. In Ghost Trees I took this idea and applied it to a wider range of features. I was fascinated by the way aspects of the landscape that had been lost – trees, field boundaries, even whole rivers – still leave their mark.
What do trees have to tell us?
Trees are a repository of story. As well as having a physical presence, they tell of the history and social history of an area. Even the different generations of street trees represent something of the spirit of the times in which they were planted – from the tall, stately trees of the Victorian era, speaking of imperial self-confidence, to the smaller and more diverse species that mark the post-war period.
Why focus on urban flora and fauna?
I was born in a city and I live in a city today. More significantly, the city is where most of us now live. In rediscovering a sense of place, it is important that we observe the plants and animals with which we share our space. Such observation has become, for me, a daily discipline and almost a matter of mindfulness.
Ghost Trees is a celebration of urban wildlife and the story of an area told through its trees. But it is also a book about the importance of connecting with history, place, other people and other species. I believe that just as our cities are diverse, they should also be biodiverse. We have all the skill and technology we need to design cities in which a whole variety of species are enabled to live in close proximity, and to their mutual benefit. It is simply the will that we lack.
What advice do you have for anyone inspired to go on an ‘urban safari’?
Look at everything, no matter how small, unappealing or over-familiar it may seem – the plants that grow in the cracks in the pavement, the mosses that cushion the top of a wall, the spiders that spin webs in the underpass. Nothing is too insignificant to be of interest. Also, ask questions of everything. How did this plant get here? How does it spread? Why are these insects congregated here? Which tree opened its leaves first this year and which held on to them last? Is there a function to this leaf shape? What is the commonest colour of flower? It is questions like these that lead you to really knowing a plant or animal.