The Little Things Tree Grates Do To Make a Big Difference
Trees evolved from natural forest settings. Where trees in woodland areas have near perfect conditions, a tree in an urban setting must endure harsh circumstances including paved surrounds, increasing microclimate temperatures and reflecting glare, exposure to wind and de-icing salt, gratuitous vandalism, and much more. Tree grates are used to help integrate trees in the urban environment […]
The History of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs)
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process by which the anticipated effects on the environment of a proposed development or project are measured. EIAs can be undertaken for individual projects or for public plans, in order to ensure that plans likely to have significant effects on the environment are made subject to assessment prior to […]
Sustainable Infrastructure Requires Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The responsibility of creating and maintaining our urban landscapes and infrastructure cannot be laid on any one particular profession. The realities of the modern planning and construction process mean that both the public and private sectors have crucial roles to play if our urban landscapes and infrastructure are to be sustainable. GreenBlue works with all […]
How Valuable Are Urban Trees?
A recent project has revealed the true value of urban trees in the UK county of Wrexham. This first study of its kind in Wales showed that the services and benefits provided by trees to the community is worth more than £1.2 million every year. With urban space at a premium and competition for municipal resources intense, it’s […]
Street Trees & Sustainable Drainage – Call for Project
As a world-leading example of municipal authorities helping to encourage green infrastructure in their cities, boroughs within the City of London were invited to submit innovative local project proposals that deliver street trees combined with sustainable urban drainage systems (or SuDS). This project was part of the wider “Mayor’s Street Tree Initiative”. Background During his first term […]
Pilot Project to Clarify Research Conducted Into Urban Tree Benefits
Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) have launched a project to pull together research the benefits of urban trees and identify knowledge gaps. The initiative will collect and review existing research on the benefits of urban trees, in order to identifying what is and is not known. The commission is comprised of the general public, researchers, practitioners, and […]
How Much is an Urban Tree Worth?
Did you know that the lose of trees on your street could reduce the value of your house by up to 15%? Not to mention the plenty of other benefits they provide too! You may value trees in your yard or on the street for any number of reasons, such as the wildlife they support, the […]
Urban Tree Pit Comparison Study Underway
The University of Greenwich is hosting the University Urban Tree Pit Comparative Study in collaboration with Hadlow College. The research is being led by landscape architect and university lecturer, Duncan Goodwin, whose research includes focus on determining the environmental and social benefits of urban trees and the establishment of green infrastructure. “For trees to become functionally useful within our urban landscapes, […]
How Urban Trees Improve our Quality of Life
There is increasing awareness to the fact that mature urban trees improve the quality of life for people in cities and towns. Consider what our urban trees do: Sequester carbon dioxide and release oxygen Absorb as much as 48 pounds of CO2 per year and release enough oxygen to support two human beings (for each mature tree). Sequester […]
Urban Trees Save Lives
Researchers from the U.S. Forest Services and The Davey Institute have found in a recent study that urban trees can save at least one life per year in most cities and up to 8 people per year in large metropolises like New York City. Tree growth within the cities can help clean the air, which […]