Greening The Market Square 18
The Market Square, the Town, and the Planet
Published in the Stratford Gazette, 18 July 2013.
The upcoming revitalization of the Market Square gives us a wonderful opportunity to plant some more green things in the middle of the city. True enough, there are trees along Wellington Street, but more downtown trees are needed, and on these hot summer days those of us who use the Square must be wishing for some green shade to provide relief from the glare.
There is no longer any serious debate about the value of trees along city streets and in open spaces like the Market Square. “Urban forest” is the term, and for once the phrase-makers have come up with a really attractive label.
There are several ways in which urban forest makes cities more livable. In the first place, trees adjacent to buildings reduce heating and cooling costs. The shade they cast on pavement reduces the heat-island effect that is making city centres significantly hotter than other parts of the landscape: a mature tree can reduce temperatures by 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit (about 3 to 5.5 degrees Celsius). Pavement that is shaded and cooled by trees wears better and lasts longer, a benefit to city budgets.
Trees cleanse the air by producing oxygen and absorbing small particulate matter. A mature tree can absorb 120-240 lbs of small particles and polluting gases. It contributes to water purification and recycling. It intercepts rainfall: 30% of the water falling on the leaves goes right back into the air, thus reducing the amount of storm water that goes into the sewer, and its roots help the soil to purify the water that reaches them (and that is polluted by the dirt that rainwater washes off the pavement).
The presence of trees in front of commercial establishments increases pedestrian traffic. A survey showed that 74% of the public preferred commercial establishments whose buildings and parking lots were beautified by trees and other landscaping. Trees improve the value of commercial and residential properties and increase the occupancy rates.
Most people like trees. Gone are the days of the pioneers when newcomers to the Canadian wilderness cut down almost every tree in sight. Nowadays we take pleasure in their beautiful shapes, in their “alive” way of responding to weather, in the birds and other urban wildlife that they are home to, and in the quiet but sturdy benevolence and shelter that they give us.
There are some problems associated with urban forests. When planted along streets, trees have to be carefully placed so that sightlines for traffic are clear, and so that the foliage doesn’t block streetlights and signs. But these are easy problems to solve: urban planners have well-tried and sensible guidelines to help determine both which species to use in which locations and how to place them. The costs connected with the maintenance of urban forest are far outweighed by the benefits: Dan Burden, in “Benefits of Urban Street Trees”, writes that the cost of a tree, including the planting and first three years of maintenance, is $250-$600, while the direct benefits (excluding aesthetic, social, and natural benefits) amount to $90,000 during the lifetime of the tree. (The figures come from the U.S. Forest Service in 2008.)
While researching this topic I learned about the Silva Cell. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, let me explain. Silva Cells are “boxes” that big trees can be planted in (along streets, or in places like the Market Square). A Silva Cell is an underground frame through which utilities pipes and wires go and which is then filled with good soil, lightly compacted. At ground level the frame is covered by a porous deck – surrounding the trunk of the tree – through which rainwater runs down to the soil to nourish the tree’s roots, and ultimately to replenish ground-water, getting filtered on the way. Trees planted in Silva Cells grow better. Because of the deck, the soil around their trunks, instead of getting packed down by feet and wheels, remains loose and able to absorb the runoff from the surrounding pavement.
When we plant trees in the Market Square, we would like to provide an environment that is beneficial for them as well as for all the rest of us. The use of Silva Cells is only one of the innovative ways in which the designer and/or landscape architect eventually selected by the City might help to make our revitalized Market Square work as well as it can.
Whatever the revitalized Market Square looks like, let’s make sure that – as is suggested by the Plant Architect Ltd. design concept – part of the area becomes a small, precious, delightful urban forest.
Brandis has lived in Stratford since 1996 and is a full-time writer. She is the author of a number of books – visit Marianne's website
Published in the Stratford Gazette, 18 July 2013.
The upcoming revitalization of the Market Square gives us a wonderful opportunity to plant some more green things in the middle of the city. True enough, there are trees along Wellington Street, but more downtown trees are needed, and on these hot summer days those of us who use the Square must be wishing for some green shade to provide relief from the glare.
There is no longer any serious debate about the value of trees along city streets and in open spaces like the Market Square. “Urban forest” is the term, and for once the phrase-makers have come up with a really attractive label.
There are several ways in which urban forest makes cities more livable. In the first place, trees adjacent to buildings reduce heating and cooling costs. The shade they cast on pavement reduces the heat-island effect that is making city centres significantly hotter than other parts of the landscape: a mature tree can reduce temperatures by 5-10 degrees Fahrenheit (about 3 to 5.5 degrees Celsius). Pavement that is shaded and cooled by trees wears better and lasts longer, a benefit to city budgets.
Trees cleanse the air by producing oxygen and absorbing small particulate matter. A mature tree can absorb 120-240 lbs of small particles and polluting gases. It contributes to water purification and recycling. It intercepts rainfall: 30% of the water falling on the leaves goes right back into the air, thus reducing the amount of storm water that goes into the sewer, and its roots help the soil to purify the water that reaches them (and that is polluted by the dirt that rainwater washes off the pavement).
The presence of trees in front of commercial establishments increases pedestrian traffic. A survey showed that 74% of the public preferred commercial establishments whose buildings and parking lots were beautified by trees and other landscaping. Trees improve the value of commercial and residential properties and increase the occupancy rates.
Most people like trees. Gone are the days of the pioneers when newcomers to the Canadian wilderness cut down almost every tree in sight. Nowadays we take pleasure in their beautiful shapes, in their “alive” way of responding to weather, in the birds and other urban wildlife that they are home to, and in the quiet but sturdy benevolence and shelter that they give us.
There are some problems associated with urban forests. When planted along streets, trees have to be carefully placed so that sightlines for traffic are clear, and so that the foliage doesn’t block streetlights and signs. But these are easy problems to solve: urban planners have well-tried and sensible guidelines to help determine both which species to use in which locations and how to place them. The costs connected with the maintenance of urban forest are far outweighed by the benefits: Dan Burden, in “Benefits of Urban Street Trees”, writes that the cost of a tree, including the planting and first three years of maintenance, is $250-$600, while the direct benefits (excluding aesthetic, social, and natural benefits) amount to $90,000 during the lifetime of the tree. (The figures come from the U.S. Forest Service in 2008.)
While researching this topic I learned about the Silva Cell. At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, let me explain. Silva Cells are “boxes” that big trees can be planted in (along streets, or in places like the Market Square). A Silva Cell is an underground frame through which utilities pipes and wires go and which is then filled with good soil, lightly compacted. At ground level the frame is covered by a porous deck – surrounding the trunk of the tree – through which rainwater runs down to the soil to nourish the tree’s roots, and ultimately to replenish ground-water, getting filtered on the way. Trees planted in Silva Cells grow better. Because of the deck, the soil around their trunks, instead of getting packed down by feet and wheels, remains loose and able to absorb the runoff from the surrounding pavement.
When we plant trees in the Market Square, we would like to provide an environment that is beneficial for them as well as for all the rest of us. The use of Silva Cells is only one of the innovative ways in which the designer and/or landscape architect eventually selected by the City might help to make our revitalized Market Square work as well as it can.
Whatever the revitalized Market Square looks like, let’s make sure that – as is suggested by the Plant Architect Ltd. design concept – part of the area becomes a small, precious, delightful urban forest.
Brandis has lived in Stratford since 1996 and is a full-time writer. She is the author of a number of books – visit Marianne's website