It is hard work being a campaigner/activist/decent human being.

During 2024, I spent far too much time rehabilitating our local green space. A big shout out to everyone who joined our Landcare team on this journey. Thank you. In my spare time, I also started a campaign to save some nearby trees. See here. I seriously doubt my ability to keep up the pace. Now I have to write some letters to the powers-that-be. Despite whatever conclusions you may come to while reading this blog, I can assure you that writing is not my forté. Eating chocolate while never getting past the first paragraph is more my thing.

I’m pretty annoyed at how my suburb has been treated. While other suburbs get rehabilitated green spaces and wetlands, we get another big shopping centre, a concrete footpath, yet another sporting oval, and a main road replacing our habitat trees. More trees will be planted apparently to offset the destruction. However, the remnant trees that are to be removed are irreplaceable. The little birds may also have something to say about the removal of many of the other eucalypts that fringe our suburb. Meanwhile, our Landcare team is waiting for a local eucalyptus sapling we requested, to be planted at our Landcare site. We have been waiting for nearly two years. Apparently, there is a shortage. Well, duh. It is no wonder the government’s vote declined at the last election. Wouldn’t it be good if I could send them a message another way, rather than wasting my precious time on writing letters that more than likely will be ignored? Something like this music clip below perhaps.

Hmm, I think I may have just written my letter.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

28 thoughts on “24 Stories – IV – Save Our Trees”

      3. I didn’t mean that, I just meant get an idea of other peoples submissions and what they had written, like North-East Forest Alliance or another groups letters from their web pages.
        It has to be personalised.
        Not sure if there’s anything on the State Landcare website 🤔

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  3. It’s all very well for developers, or governments to say trees will be replaced. What is the wildlife supposed to do in the meantime. No trees are ever allowed to grow to maturity. A few years and they want to rip them out and plant something else.

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  5. In recent years I’ve seen some real knock down drag out battles over trimmming and cutting Town trees in the Town that I work in. People in our area, at last, got fed up with developers clearing everything green in sight.
    Being that I do the video for lots of the planning meetings I’ve also seen town residents take down developers for removing trees they said were going to be preserved. Developers tend to reappear requesting permits, and having a poor track record has driven at least one builder out of that community.
    You are doing the right thing, Tracy. give them a black eye! it’s the only way to keep them honest.

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  7. Keep on, Tracy. Last year before hurricane season, our mayor announced that we would have arborists trimming back any trees that might compromise our power lines. Arborists my ass! Enough people complained about these tree whackers that our mayor came to our defense and stopped them. It is total BS when they say they will plant two trees for every one they take down. How about not taking them down in the first place! You are to be commended on your commitment to this ongoing problem. I hope something good comes of it. 🌳

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  8. You never know, Tracy. Sometimes this stuff becomes suddenly effective and meaningful. It happened at both “my” park in San Diego and here at “my” Refuge. Here a talented grant writer appeared out of somewhere and suddenly the ditches that feed the ponds are being rehabilitated and “bad” trees have been yanked out. I think it’s one of those things in life we do for the doing (our immortal soul) without ever expecting to win. Anyway, I think you’re Brave and Good.

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    1. I’m not Brave and Good. It’s my home.
      I hope you took before and after photos of the ditches. That is so fantastic. When people see the difference, perhaps that will lead to more projects and more volunteers. You’ve made Monte Vista sound very progressive.

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  10. Tracy, you don’t like an easy life, isn’t it! But then you wouldn’t be you without this sort of commitment. Kudos and I so admire you!
    Write what you feel. An official sounding letter won’t elicit a response. Remove the wrapper from that chocolate bar and get going. Maybe attaching a couple of poems will do the trick. Somebody will definitely respond.

    That’s a fabulous song. Wishing you the very best in this year. ❤️

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