Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 14th November, 2023)

'echy-peck.

Mother nature takes over, this tree looks well rotted and not a lot of root ball to hold it down. Hope no damage to the wall or lamp post.

Looks fortunate that it's not really caused much damage. As Peter said it seems rotted. Hopefully some work to check and remove any of the other trees in the area that are in danger of this happening to willl take place. I think that they look great but if unsafe they need to go

At least it's happened naturally due to the wind; I hate to see trees deliberately cut down although I know there is often good reason. But still such a shame to see a tree uprooted.

It must have been diseased looking at the trunk and it’s not all that old considering the width of it sadly. It was dug in too near the wall anyway.

Yes, Hecky Pecky indeed!
Another one bites the dust!

How do we know that it is a laburnum tree? Laburnum has an olive green bark and a thinner trunk. Also, all parts are poisonous, including the bark. It contains cytosine which is very concentrated in the seeds which fall to the ground. I would have thought that councils did not plant laburnum trees on pavements and public pathways but I may be wide of the mark. We would be talking Wigan Council after all. Maybe Brian lives in the vicinity and knows as a fact that it is Laburnam. When in flower it is very distinct.

Nature...at least it's fallen the right way and not in the road.

Not a good idea having trees planted on the pavements. They shield light from the street lighting columns, moss all over the foot path which makes it slippy on foot. The railways complaining about leaves on the track causing delays...well cut the trees down Network rail. I love trees but in the woods, forests and parks. Never plant trees on footpaths and next to railway lines.

Well said Malc,makes perfect sense.

Is that the last Laburnum tree in Chaucer Place? they were always a pleasant sight to see when in flower and the yellow plumes a change from the pinks of the Cherries along the other local roads

There will always be the ones who are forever having a moan about something or other or you shouldn't this or that, there is nothing nicer than to look upon, drive along or even to live on a treelined street, and trees do clean up the atmosphere with being natures CO2 filters, and if wanted by residents the council do replace wayside trees that have succumbed to disease or weather.

Laburnum are not the deadly demonised trees as made out to be by the scaremongers. The seeds are well known to be quite bitter and if I was daft enough to chew one I very much doubt I'd be able to chew for a few moments without spitting out, and the American Indians actually used the seeds as a purgative so you know what the end result of consuming the seeds would be, and besides far more poisonous plants can be seen and are looked upon with delight in many gardens.

Thankfully though there have been for some time Laburnum trees for sale that have the wonderful pendulous yellow flower, but do not develop those much maligned seed pods.

**All parts of the laburnum are known to be poisonous, but it is the seed pods which are most often reported as causing problems, as children mistake them for pea pods. Whilst there are cases of people, both children and adults, suffering nausea, vomiting, sleepiness and convulsions after ingesting laburnum, there are very few cases of fatalities related to the tree.** this paragraph from here: https://chempics.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/common-laburnum-laburnum-anagyroides/

Totally agree Malc.There are plenty places to plant trees so they would not become a problem.When planners do their drawings the trees and bushes look perfect on a computer screen but over the years they become too big and are difficult and costly to maintain.

Yes agreed, tree in Parks, gardens and woods, but NOT on the pavements.

I think the council should remove all trees obstructing footpaths, that tree was taking up so much room. Bet the residents are glad it's down and being removed. I know I would.

Oy Vey, you lot are happy enough to allow vehicles to park on the pavements and nowts ever said about that, but cast a thought for disabled in wheelchairs, people with guide dogs or mothers with prams or with two or three children; and having to walk out and negotiate along a busy road just to get past a vehicle that a selfish so and so with no thoughts for anyone else has parked on the pavement!

There isn't anything wrong with trees on pavements ask any dog, they provide an area for their relief, and far better a warmer tree trunk than a cold metal or concrete lamp post and for leaving messages for other dogs to sniff, and most importantly trees are far more beneficial for our environment than you would ever think.

Yes, Hecky Pecky indeed!
Another one bites the dust!

Cyril who has mentioned they are happy about parking on pavements?

Good point Pw.
I think someone's lost the argument.

What on Earth are you on about by 'argument' there was no argument as far as I know, only you are now implying that there was. So I don't know where you are coming from, as the saying goes - thought followed a muck cart thinking it was a wedding.

Yes Pat, Hecky Pecky indeed!

It’s a fact there are more cars on pavements than trees. I quite like trees on pavements if they are wide enough..but in the end they do grow too big. I remember the trees on Wigan Lane going up towards the Infirmary and around the area where the Charles Dicken’s pub was/ is. I believe the Dutch Elm disease saw those off. It was lovely walking from the Market Square on Whit Monday back through those sun dappled streets. It was the only streets you would see trees unless you lived on the newish Council estates.

Cyril,I was not arguing with you just asking a question.

The thing is cars and vans move, trees don't or in this case Nature
moves them. In my opinion trees causes footpaths and roads to crack and lift, in other words damage.

Have a read about the benefits of having trees growing in Wigan and become a tree lover: https://giveitagrowwigan.co.uk/blog-the-benefits-of-urban-trees/

Yes I know Pw, it was Jackanory @ 20:05 my post was aimed at.

It all depends on which trees are planted along footpaths, and don't forget that vehicles cause far more severe damage to the pavements as well as to the underground services.
Pavements are for people, roads are for cars!

Sign the ongoing petition below. ;¬)
https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/pavement-parking

Cyril , There's that many vehicles on the road we have to park on the pavement, otherwise we'd block the road path for other moving vehicles. It's common sense.