Tree's A Crowd by Dave Cohen
“What’s your favourite tree?” Rabbi Sandra asked at the start of her Rosh Hashanah sermon.
I wanted to put my hand up “Ooh I know the answer to this! It’s that one I first spotted last autumn in Priory Park, you know the one, with the leaves, and the uh, what are they called the twigs… yeah that one.”
It was mid-November. The tree was not particularly large but stood out because all the others around it had shed their foliage. This one was taking longer to discard its spring and summer coverage: it had lost a few but the remaining leaves had changed to different shades of red and yellow.
From fifty yards away it looked ablaze, a magnificent sight.
This was the moment, almost a year ago, when I decided it was time to get to know my neighbourhood better.
Not just the neighbours, their dogs and kids, or where I can pick up a pint of milk at 7 o’clock in the morning. Trees. Flowers. Birds.
There are people locally who are way ahead of me on this. Across Haringey, voluntary groups meet in our parks, record levels of biodiversity, manage woodland, rewild areas and help to bring back different species to our green spaces.
For years our city broke records as one of the most polluted in the world. Since 2016 the Greater London Authority has made reducing pollution a priority. Annual average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide – the poisonous gas produced mainly by fossil fuels – has plummeted thanks to numerous policies including the replacement of petrol and diesel buses with electric vehicles.
Since 2016, the Authority has overseen the planting of more than half a million trees across London.
If you look at any map of Haringey, you'll see how the Borough is divided in two by the big railway line that ends at King's Cross. Our side - Crouch End, Hornsey, Muswell Hill, Highgate - represents one of the wealthiest parts of London. The other side - Wood Green, Noel Park, Tottenham - is one of the poorest parts.
One representation of this is trees - we have way more greenery, and therefore a more robust climate, than the other side. A recent survey showed that in case of climate emergency such as flooding or overheating, the west is much better prepared than the east.
We can pat ourselves on the back for being wealthier but that’s not exactly reassuring news.
One simple solution is to plant more trees.
Over the coming months the Chavurah Social Action Group will be working with Haringey to find places on the east side of the Borough where more trees can be planted.
£200 will pay for Haringey to buy a tree for us to plant. This Chanukah, we are asking you to make a contribution to something that has the potential to give pleasure to you, your kids and future generations
For Mitzvah Day and Chanukah the children in Chaverim and Young Shabbat have made ‘Tree Minyan Tzedakah boxes’ – encouraging every household in the Chavurah to put in £5 each night of Chanukah and together as a community we will raise money and awareness to help plant more trees in Haringey, for the benefit of everyone. Alternatively, please donate £30 via the Chavurah and together with 9 others you will make up a minyan, a sacred gathering, to help our climate.
You can donate via this link.
If you want to get involved in our Chavurah Tree Planting Project, drop me a line davecohen58@googlemail.com
By the way, I think that tree in Priory Park is a Norwegian Maple. I need to find an expert to have a look. Maybe you can tell me.
It lives about halfway between the paddling pool area and the Basketball courts.
Shabbat shalom