Signed Artist Book for Father's Day

The Demise of the Urban Tree

It’s a very sad fact that in many of our towns and cities - large mature trees are being felled at an alarming rate - not because they are diseased but that they’re seen as a problem to urban housing. The BBC programme The Trees That Made Britain recently investigated the current practices of insurance companies that can demand trees to be removed if a claim is made for any structural problems to a building that has a large tree near to it. Also in this age of litigation local councils err on the side of caution - often cutting down healthy mature trees that line many of our urban streets in favour of smaller ‘lollipop’ varieties. (Image above of Mature Horsechestnut tree planted in Broughton in Furness in 1850)

Arriving in London from Finland, artist Minna Kantonen rapidly noticed the trend of small tree planting which she has recorded in her ‘Book of Small Trees’. Her collection of images lament the disregard for large trees and reveal the alternative(often penned tightly into small spaces between buildings) as mere tokens of ‘greenery’ which only serve to heighten the starkness of urban landscapes. (Image above from Minna Kantonen's Book of Small Trees)

The Small Book of Trees by Minna Kantonen is available from the book department at The Shop Floor Project with a limited number of signed copies in stock. Delivery within 3 days of purchase - £9.50 (currently with 10% off all books which shows up at the checkout).