The
Morley Enviro-Youth Group set about to count the tree populations of :-
·
Morley
Town Centre Area
·
Scatcherd
Park
·
Dartmouth
Park
The
aim was to discover the tree populations in these three areas. The population
numbers would help to discover if there is a need for extra tree planting in
suitable locations in and around Morley.
This
survey does not take into account bushes and the area of cover they provide.
However, levels of bush cover were mentioned in the findings.
This
survey did not distinguish between species or age of individual trees.
Tree
Cover Calculations
A
hectare of Tree planting would yield 2500 trees, which would be thinned out to
1250 after 15 to 20 years. A standard UK percentage cover would be 4%. This
equates to 50 trees per hectare found in a mature site.
The
Need For Trees
The
vast majority of atmospheric oxygen levels originate from photosynthesis and
plants. Clearly, trees are a significant contributor to levels of oxygen in the
atmosphere. Trees can also absorb many of the air pollutants found in urban
areas. Additionally, can actively reduce noise decibel levels.
The
Morley Town Centre Area boundary is the area enclosed by Commercial St, up
Fountain Street, along Corporation St, and down Queensway, around Coffin Corner
back into Commercial St.
·
This area
was calculated as being 13.8 hectares
(554.4m + 396m + 316.8m + 316.8m) .
·
The
number of trees counted were 292.
·
The
number of trees counted were 292.
·
A 4% tree
cover would equal to 690 trees.
·
Morley
Town Centre area would therefore be 398 short of a 4% cover
·
There
were 44 trees in the area between
Queen St and Commercial St.
·
There
were 192 trees in and around the Morrisons Car Park ( 65% )
·
Bush
cover was occasional and seen as low level.
It
would seem to be significant that 65% of the trees in the Town Centre Area are
found in and around the Morrisons Car Park. Normally, supermarket developments
are resisted by local populations. The Kirkstall Morrisons development faced
significant local opposition. These findings show how that supermarket
developments can significantly increase tree populations in urban areas.
Clearly,
it would be extremely difficult to add an additional 398 to the Morley Town
Centre Area. However, additional tree planting elsewhere in the Morley area
would offset the lack of trees in the Town Centre Area.
The
Scatcherd Park Area boundaries were along Queensway, Queen St, up Queens
Promenade and along the back of the housing in Gladstone Terrace, and returning
along the rear of the housing on Corporation St.
·
This area
was calculated as being 12.18 hectares ( 495m x 246m ).
·
The
number of trees counted were 282.
·
A 4% tree
cover would equal to 609 trees.
·
Scatcherd
Park area would therefore be 327 short of a 4% cover
Bush cover in the park was good. The Sports Centre car park contained significant bush and tree cover
The
boundaries of Dartmouth Park are clearly defined as being along St Andrews ave,
along Park Ave, up along the rear boundary of Bruntcliffe School and along the
rear of the housing on Parkland Avenue.
·
This area
was calculated as being 11.97 hectares ( 346m x 346m ).
·
The
number of trees counted were 1008.
·
A 4% tree
cover would equal to 598 trees.
·
Dartmouth
Park area would therefore have 410 more than a 4% cover.
·
Bush
cover was excellent at this site.
The
total area surveyed was 3795 hectares
·
The
number of trees expected for a 4% cover would be 1898 trees
·
The
number of trees found was 1582
·
The
number of trees short of a 4% cover would therefore be 316
This
survey aimed to be fair in the choice of sites. However, even at a 4% tree cover
level, the three sites showed a deficit. The Morrisons Supermarket Development
demonstrates how urban expansion can include environmental considerations.
Action
to find additional sites for tree planting would certainly offset the shortage
of tree cover in the Morley area.
Community
pressure on future urban development in Morley could avoid further depletion of
percentage tree cover. The Morrisons development could provide an excellent best
practice example.
The
Morley Enviro-Youth Group would like to :-
·
discover
possible community sites where additional trees can be planted
·
grow
trees from seed ( acorns, chestnut, and others )
·
invite
other groups to help to grow trees, to plant out in community sites
·
make
these results available to Morley Town Planners
The
Morley Enviro-Youth Group would welcome interest from local community groups on
these or other local environmental issues. The Group would also welcome new
members to help carry out similar research, development and task project work.
You can contact Morley Enviro-Youth on 0113
252 4786.
Meetings are
usually on Friday evenings from 6.30pm to 8pm.