“Several years ago I was attracted to my window by the sound of a chainsaw,” writes daveru07. “Looking out I saw tree surgeons working on the top of a tall tree, one of a group of three. I assumed they were trimming the top branches. By dusk, all three trees had gone. They built an office building where the trees had been, and gave it a name: High Trees.”
Such a story is sadly familiar in many of our cities as we see greenery replaced or controlled by development. In Sheffield, a proposal from the council to fell 11 lime trees on one street has sparked a citywide campaign of protest.
We asked you to share your own photographs and stories of urban trees, and saw brilliant contributions from around the world – we’ve highlighted a selection below. Personally, I was waiting for someone to share the bizarre story of one tree in the US city of Athens, Georgia, which apparently owns itself.
I know there are plenty more arboreal tales from cities out there – so keep on contributing with GuardianWitness and in the comments below.
Jilin City, China
Surabaya, Indonesia
In Indonesia, the city of Surabaya in East Java makes it a condition of all local administrative permissions, building permits, family ID cards etc that the people making the request show evidence that they have bought and planted a tree in their neighbourhood. Brilliant. (geraintl)
London, UK
SIlver Birch at Tate Modern
I love the tall thick avenues of Silver Birch on Bankside, in front of Tate Modern. Due to being planted so close together, they make an amazing rustling sound in the winds off the Thames.
The Unstoppable Tree
This tree on the way out of Blackheath Village in London seems to defy all attempts at enclosure. It's a beautiful symbol of strength and single-mindedness in an otherwise ordered urban environment.
Nature's Way
Even the simplest, most serene of blossoms, throws me back to the countryside. Even in the whirlwind City of London 🍁
Spring in London
This is one of those moments that the beauty of the neighbourhood almost hurts. You see everyone taking pictures of the trees, everyone becomes proud of the street. People stop to chat about how beautiful they are.
Man on Path - Highbury Fields
Highbury Fields is an important place in my life. It is forever changing depending on what day it is, the weather and what mood I'm in. Sometimes I share it and sometimes it's my own. Seeing these trees every day reminds me that I am just one of many passing through.
Urban trees are so valuable yet Southwark council in London is absolutely determined to chop down “Southwark Woods” including at least 130 mature trees to make way for burial plots! This is in spite of huge local protest both within Southwark and by people in other London boroughs.. The Mayor of London may plant 20,000 saplings but it will take some years before they provide the advantages conferred by large trees. (greenislet)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Glasgow, UK
Tenement trees
Looking down Queensborough Gardens in the West End of Glasgow on a lovely sunny autumn day - the trees in this avenue are the height of the tenements on either side and when they are in their autumnal colours look just spectacular against the red sandstone.
Nottingham, UK
A special tree in Nottingham Park Estate
This tree signifies to me the tranquility that can be found even within a busy urban environment
Belfast, UK
Bangalore, India
Our street in Bangalore is full of tall old trees ... at dusk it is wonderful to watch them, listen to them ... (Vrunda Shankara)
Gyeongju, South Korea
In Gyeongju’s Tumuli Park, the burial tombs of Korea’s ancient leaders are accented by small groves of trees. These tiny groves found in the ancient city centre complement the minimal magnificence of the tombs perfectly. (Andy Faulk)
Melbourne, Australia
@guardian @guardiancities pic.twitter.com/7lEICXYMak
— stella quinert (@stellaquinert) August 16, 2015
New York City, US
Oxford, UK
Mumbai, India
Madrid, Spain
There are over 250,000 trees in the streets of Madrid, plus a couple of million in the parks in and around the city. Beautiful, and useful when you need a bit of shade, which is often. (Bill Dixon)
Osijek, Croatia
ZOO garden, Osijek, Croatia
Osijek is the city in Croatia and largest city of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia. Osijek is located on the right bank of the river Drava. This photo of Osijek's ZOO garden was taken this summer, from the boat on the river Drava.
Brasov, Romania
Brasov once was a heavily industrialised city. Things have changed though. Now this marshalling yard behind my house is abandoned completely. I have seen these trees grow to make my world greener and provide separation from the dull-grey monotonous apartment blocks that is my reality. (pieterwier)
Shanghai, China
Sydney, Australia
I took this on holiday in Australia. We had just been forced off a coastal path due to the risk of forest fires in the area (literally a few minutes away from this street). This tree had been pruned to grow around the cables and must have been doing so for a number of years. This, and the forest fire risk, made me think carefully about the relationship between humans and “nature”, and how we judge “resilience”. I also like the heart shape that the tree has become. (steenybean)
Ajloun, Jordan
Norwich, UK
I love this little garden in the centre of Norwich. Contained within a valley just off a main road, it blocks out the sounds of the city. It’s also a great place to relax. (PassivePenguin)
Sheffield, UK
Chippinghouse Road Tree, Sheffield.
This lovely tree is scheduled to be felled next week in Sheffield City Council's programme of tree removal. One by one, quietly, trees are being felled across Sheffield's urban space.
We have some lovely trees here in Sheffield, and when properly maintained, they improve the street scene no end. They muffle the road noise, cool the house in summer, provide oxygen, and many other “services”. The trees being removed look suspiciously healthy in the wood, and the replacements are pretty little trees not suited to the big old houses hereabouts. (wotisaidiz)
Singapore
Substation Banyan
There are some extraordinary tropical trees in Singapore many of which are protected by law. This banyan in the grounds near the Substation Arts Centre had to be removed to allow expansion of the nearby Singapore Management University. Trees hold spirits and this one had to be charmed by a bomoh before it was demolished. Many cuttings were taken and replanted in other areas to ensure its survival.
Singapore Night Festival
Projections on this tree during the Night Festival last year made for some fascinating images. This is in front of the colonial style National Museum of Singapore
Birmingham, UK
I go to the Ideal Park in Bordesley Green, Birmingham almost every day, not only because this is the only open space next to my workplace, but also because of the trees in the park which are the greatest attractions of this precious quiet space in the busy neighbourhood. On the other day, I met little Furqan and his mum in the park and started our conversation about the park and the trees.
Furqan was only a 3-year-old toddler when his mum, Sajida Khatoon, brought him to the Ideal Park to enjoy a holiday festival event. “It was an early Autumn, nice day out in the Park,” said Mrs. Khatoon. “We sat under the shade of the trees, the leaves were just catching the autumn colours and it looked spectacular – the trees gave us all an inclusive feeling ... the trees are the symbols of protection and safety.”
After a while, as we were about to leave, Furqan interrupted by saying, “last year, our school teacher brought us to this park to introduce various trees. We noted down the names of each tree, and later, some of us wrote an essay on our visit, and some did paintings of the trees. These are all giant old trees, I hope nobody cuts them down – ever,” he murmured. I could sense a budding conservationist in 9-year-old Furqan’s comment. (kaneezh56)
Ghent, Belgium
Start of my weekly run
I love running in a natural environment. Since I just moved to a new area in the city of Ghent I feel very lucky to live next to the Bourgoyen - a natural parc within the city of Ghent. This photo is the start of my new running trail nextdoors.
