Pedunculate oak, Quercus robur

2 thoughts on “Pedunculate oak, Quercus robur”

1. Hi Daniel, I really enjoyed reading your post about the Oaks on and around One Tree Hill.
   Do you know much about the horrendous network rail wholesale vegetation clearance that took place on the Honor Oak cutting about 10 years ago. They are threatening to do the same, i.e. a 7 m wide by 4 miles long wholesale vegetation clearance from Nunhead to Saint Johns, which currently we are fighting to save, it’s sheer ecoside. We understand the need for network rail to manage risk to trains et cetera, but the wholesale clearance of such rich bio-diversity is largely to do with cost-cutting, it’s cheaper to maintain a huge swathes of track devoid of trees et cetera. Network Rail’s own Provisional Ecological Assessment identified many endangered and protected species and yet without the friends of Geoffrey Road group jumping up and down, the destruction would’ve happened by now. At the moment it’s just been halted while further assessment is undertaken, but we don’t know how tokenistic that will be.
   Do you have any views or experience of what I refer to please Daniel?
   PS. I think I met you once

   1. Hi Ali, thanks for your comment.

      It is very difficult seeing London’s remaining wild corners and corridors being treated with a lack of consideration for the value to local people, let alone their wildlife. It is just so common due to ignorance, lack of care, and, as you say, financial reasons.

      I don’t know anything specific about the section you mention but it’s good that there is more time being taken to consider the impact. I remember the architect of The Shard saying how London’s railway sidings are all wasted if not built on, and how ignorant that comment was.

      I am guessing that they don’t want to have to maintain any trees so would prefer grassland or something that can be sprayed with glyphosate a few times each spring/summer. Leaves on the line and all that.

      I hope there will be a reasonable outcome.

      Thanks for reading my blog!

      Daniel