Save the Urban Trees

Latest development in the case of 14 endangered Nørrebro trees

September 22, 2015

A dark day

Plan to fell the 15 big and healthy Møllegade trees passed without a vote.

The needs of the citizens means nothing. Those who in large numbers fought for By-Oasen (the petting zoo right behind this project), and won almost immediately, have overlooked what a bike highway passing right by the animals, will mean.

And they have overlooked the importance of our trees. A dark day for Copenhagen and Nørrebro.

Reads: Further process. Work expected to begin early 2016 and finished by summer 2016. Decision by Technical- and Environmental Commitee, September 21 2015. Recommendation passed without a vote.

Link to agenda of meeting, with summary at the bottom: Recommendation passed without a vote. (in Danish)

These three ash trees will be felled to make room for a swapping shed.

And on top of this beautiful old tree there will be another shed. For toys.

It is just unreal. And so incredibly sad.

A small update: the support for the trees keep pouring in, regardless of the signatures already being handed over to the politicians. The petition is alive and kicking, with strong support from our friends at petting zoo By-Oasen.

http://www.skrivunder.net/bevartraerne

Links to the entire process and our fight for Møllegade, latest first:

The last appeal

Time's up

Latest development in the case of 14 endangered Nørrebro trees

September 21, 2015

The last appeal

We just had our first audience for Teknik og Miljøudvalget (the Committee in charge of Technical- and Environmental Affairs). Today the politicians decide the faith of the fifteen trees on Møllegade, and the plans to make an open tile square with a bike lane.

One of the things people have said concistently during the whole process, was that no one who knows or use the area would ever dream of making such a suggestion. This is why we chose to spend our ten minutes showing them pictures of the place. The kindergarten Guldsmeden, the recycling station and the petting zoo By-Oasen right behind it, standing to be affected by the proposal, and of course all our beautiful trees.

We told them how much we all love the trees. We also relayed practical advice from experts on how to build around trees. Including that of an advisor from the construction business, suggesting the use of screw foundations when mounting the recycling shed. This would allow the three big ash trees to survive.

We also made it clear that the 1:1 replacement concept only works on paper. Newly planted street trees have a short life expectancy, and big trees removed from the street will never be able to grow again on the same spot. Now they know. Finally, we handed over the signatures for the preservation of the trees: 2475 digital and 23 on paper, from the internet-deprived elderly in the City of the Elderly. Oh.

Here is a few highlights of the comments, from the petition, answering the question, "why did you sign":

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“I live here and this area works wonders as an oasis for people of all ages. Felling the trees would completely destroy the place! This is obviously a suggestion from someone who does not use or spend time in the area.”

"There are way too few green spaces on Nørrebro - which is why it is important to implement green when planning.”

“The beautiful trees are right outside my windows, and the very reason that my children have been able to follow the changing of the seasons from our home, even though they have had a childhood in the middle of Nørrebro. I hope we will succeed in alerting the politicians before it is too late.”

“I don’t mind cycling a detour to preserve an old tree.”

“Because I cycle on Møllegade and turn a right down Guldbergsgade every day and there is no need for a shortcut! Trees before more silly asphalt!!!”

"If we remove the trees in the city, we remove the possibilities to clean the particle polluted air, with its health threatening consequences.”

“My four grandchildren have moved to Møllegade and the park is their playground and oasis, thanks to trees and animals.”

“We need all the trees we can get on the heavily trafficked Nørrebro ...let us keep that oasis...”

“A clear no to felling of these big and beautiful trees in our neighborhood. The city may kindly change its plans, and spare the trees.”

"Because we must preserve our green spaces and especially so when the trees are viable. Besides, it is not good for the elderly in the City of the Elderly, with a speeding cyclist.”

"Newly planted trees don’t survive these days, due to salting in the winter that seeps into the ground and destroy the growth. The trees we see in the cities now are old, in a few decades we won’t see them grow this tall.”

“I love riding a bike in my city, and have no problem cycling a detour to save the trees. The strengthen our health, physically and psychologically, as does a few more rounds in the pedals. A safer cycle way (I assume this is the purpose) should be possible with a better solution.”

“I signed because we see felling of beautiful old trees over and over, and in their place we get ten stick trees, of which half dies within the next year... and so on.”

“Because the absense of small and green children’s oasis in Copenhagen was the reason we moved to the country...”

"The city needs all the trees we have. The create oxygen and environment. If we fell the big trees and plant new ones, it will take 30-50 years before the have reached the size of those felled. It promotes a poorer city image and environment. A city consisting of tiles and asphalt is cold, and people have a tendency to treat it and each other badly!"

*****

Fingers crossed that the politicians will choose to spare our trees.

Links to previous posts on the fight for Møllegade:

Time's up

Latest development in the case of 14 endangered Nørrebro trees

September 16, 2015

Time's up

Time’s up. On Monday the politicians decide the destiny of the fifteen trees on the corner of Møllegade and Guldbergsgade. Outlook is grim, as they are “politically obligated” to make this square, and apparently this can’t be done without felling fifteen of our trees.

The fight goes on. The petition is handed over to the city on Friday. A little over 2400 signatures. There are plenty more who wants the trees preserved, but most of the people I have talked to, have given up hope that the politicians even care, or listen to the needs of the citizens.

We have been granted audience before the meeting, and will spend our ten precious minutes showing the committee pictures from the place they are about to destroy, the beautiful kindergarten and the big old trees on the square and corner that neighbors and passers-by enjoy every day. The petting zoo By-Oasen with goats, chickens and rabbits, on the other side, who will suffer increased traffic along the fence. A safe haven for children and elderly, about to be destroyed because of a plan that no one wants or needs.

It can still be stopped, but it takes political courage to realize that the plan only works on paper. From politicians supportive of the fellings, we are told that there is no problem, as the trees are “replaced”. A tree is a tree, in the world of math. It is an uphill battle, but we won’t give up.

Sign here: link.

Guldsmeden kindergarten, a small children's forest in the city.

Three beautiful ash trees, about to be felled to make space for a recycling shed. The irony. You can almost taste it.

The petting goats at By-Oasen on the other side, who will be exposed to increased traffic.

This is a fine example of the city’s math, by the rear entrance of the planned square: a tree is a tree. In the foreground something that could one day become a big and beautiful cherry tree, it only it had half a chance.

Links to previous posts on Møllegade:

Latest development in the case of 14 endangered Nørrebro trees

DGB - Poplar trees on the square (email)

August 5, 2015

Access to information in Møllegade case

We requested access to information in the case of Møllegade and Guldbergsgade, specifically concerning the health of the trees.

We requested the information to identify the problem, in order to prevent a similar unfortunate situation from arising again. We also wanted to see where it states that the trees are sick and a danger to people, but that information is nowhere to be found. It is also quite surprising that there are no health reports made for the trees, that is all gathered after the fact, when citizens request the information.

The city’s attorney asked that names of individuals were blacked out, we respect that, of course (thank you to Tom Manczak for technical assistance).

(My letter to the city)

I hereby request access to information, under the freedom of information act, on the following:

The professional evaluation of all the trees on the new square by Møllegade and Guldbergsgade.
Health report of the trees.
Light on all circumstances regarding the decision to fell the trees, and names of those consulted in the case, and names of those who made the decision.

We have heard the trees referred to as: “in poor condition”, that the poplar trees are leaning against something, and that they have been damaged in a fire in a shed, and that trees are in risk of falling over. I would like to see the correspondence, the document and/or emails and relevant notes from phone conversations, where these descriptions are present.

I am looking forward to a reply within 10 days.

Kind regards
Sandra Høj
Red Byens Træer
(Save the Urban Trees)

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The city then returned, asking for clarification on the exact documents we were requesting. Hard to say when you don’t know where the (mis-)information is hiding.

(My reply)

I understand the magnitude of my request. Ideally it would all fit in a single document. The reports about the trees have been unclear, at first they were referred to as in generally poor condition, and therefore not worth preserving. I would like to see the foundation for that assessment.

I am asking for everything because I don’t know where the information is stored, but to clarify that is what I am looking for: a health report on the trees, where it states that they are unstable, leaning on things, have fire damages and suffering from balding canopies. Some of the things that have been constantly referred to.

Since we first started asking about the condition of the trees, the story has changed, now we are looking at eight trees deemed worthy of preservation. This number is referred to in a note to the T&M Mayor, document 2015-0109024-1.

There have also been references to an external evaluation of the trees. I would like to see that report. The department has also had their own staff inspect the trees, I would like to see their report as well.

I hope this simplifies the task. It is not my intention to waste the department’s time, more than anything I would like to see it spent preserving our trees.

Kind regards
Sandra Høj
Red Byens Træer
(Save the Urban Trees)

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Quick and clear response followed.

(City writes)

As I understand your mail, you are requesting access to:

Documents shedding light on the foundation for assessing the health of the trees.

Health report of the trees

External assessement fo the trees, and report.

Departments own notes on the trees.

If you can confirm this, I will asap look into what is available, and how much I can give you access to.

******

(And then came the information)

Dear Sandra Høj.

Hereby in reply to your request for access to information in mail of June 22th and June 30th.

Request pertaining to following documents/information:

Documents shedding light on the foundation for assessing the health of the trees.

Health report of the trees.

External assessment of the trees, and report.

Departments own notes on the trees.

Re. 1.

In the case the following documents shed light on the assessment of the health of the trees:

Document no. 2014-0035121-02 Hearing on City of the Elderly, Fælledparken and Guldbergshave 2 stage, September 2014.

Designation of trees worth preserving - City of the Elderly by Møllegade and the Recycling Centre May 2013.

Trees in local plans - general rules for appointing trees worth preserving.

Document no. 2014-0035121-04 Hearing on City of the Elderly, May 2015

Re. 2.

There are no health report made for the trees on this project.

Re. 3.

The following external evaluation of the trees:

Mail from the technical advisor of the project, June 24th 2015

Re. 4.

The departments comments on the trees are found in the hearing replies (Same as in Re.1)

Document no. 2014-0035121-02 Hearing on City of the Elderly, Fælledparken and Guldbergshave 2 stage, September 2014.

Document no. 2014-0035121-04 Hearing on City of the Elderly, May 2015

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me again.

****

(Below the attached four documents from the city. Two Hearing replies, one email and “Trees in Local Planning”, all in Danish. If you need help translating these documents, let us know.)

Trees in local planning by Sandra

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Abbreviations:
CUA = Center for Udførelse af Anlæg. / Center for execution of development
CNA = Center for Nye Anlægsprogrammer / Center for development
BF = Byens Fysik. / City physics

2014-0035121-4 Høringssvar til De Gamles by etape maj 2015 08 05 2015 docx 14438233_12614690_0 _3_

(Hearing reply for City of the Elderly, May 2015)

2014-0035121-2 Høringssvar Til de Gamles by Fælledparken Og Guldbergshav...

(Hearing reply for City of the Elderly, Fælledparken and Guldbergshave)

(Vertical, this one just wouldn’t turn)

******

The entire concept of making a square on top of a small urban forest, is a poor idea. Add to that, the necessary means are not set aside. You almost feel sorry for the project managers, assigned an impossible task that the locals don’t want and that no one really needs. Fingers crossed that the politicians will make the right decision, and settle for the changes already planned further up the road.

Links to previous posts on our fight for the Møllegade trees:

Latest development in the case of 14 endangered Nørrebro trees

July 29, 2015

Trees on Lorry TV

TV Lorry featured the trees tonight, and we got to talk about a lot of important issues, like tree policy, Møllegade and the latest Carlsberg massacre, plus good advice from the city of Frederiksberg. Finally the trees are on the agenda, thank you Tommy Petersen, for helping them get there.

Link to the clip: here.

More Møllegade posts:

Latest development in the case of 14 endangered Nørrebro trees