• Trees provide shelter and improve the look and feel of urban areas as well as attracting birds.

Protecting and enhancing bush and urban green spaces

A focus of the Birkenhead Residents Association and the Neighbourhood Plan working group

One of the principles of the Birkenhead Neighbourhood Plan is to protect and enhance bush and urban green spaces. Birkenhead is lucky to have significant native bush reserves including kauri stands which are currently unaffected by kauri dieback and we hope that they can be kept safe.

However, it’s not just important to look after native and established trees in our reserves and parks. Urban designers and researchers have identified a number of benefits of having trees in urban areas including:
• The visual appeal of a tree lined street that changes seasonally.
• Improved air quality from car exhausts as well as absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Health and wellbeing as well as reducing noise pollution.
• Managing stormwater run-off.
• An increase in property prices - studies have shown a consistent 5-15% increase in property values on tree lined streets, proving that trees increase commercial and residential real estate values.

Last year, the Tree Council reported that since blanket tree protection was removed in 2012, a third of Auckland’s residential trees had been felled, including those that were supposed to be protected.

The neighbourhood planning group is looking for help to identify trees that might need extra protection under the council’s notable trees schedule. The council guidance outlines a number of factors that the council will consider such as cultural, heritage or intrinsic value based on the age, size and stature of a tree. If you think there are any trees that add special character to your street or local area, get in touch with the team by email: birkenheadplanning@gmail.com who will help to consider what opportunities for protection there might be.

What’s next?
The working group are looking to run a photography competition in the next few months to encourage local students and residents to share photos that they think help to demonstrate the plan’s principles. More details will be provided in next month’s column.

The Birkenhead Residents Association and our Neighbourhood Plan working group are volunteer led. Please join up today – your membership helps the Association continue to represent the wonderful neighbourhood of Birkenhead.  To find out more, visit us at www.bra.org.nz