[Lisa-Adam]

[medieval knievel]

to ask whether it was possible to continue to guerilla garden without the police objecting.

[Rachael]

It's amazing the things one can be guilty of in the eyes of the police when they feel like it. I got stopped by the Garda from locking my bike to a street sign, on the grounds that it was criminal damage to a pole!!

It probably was the camera that made those police send them packing, they didn't want to be on camera not doing their job properly.

I love the thought that we may soon have more wildflowers on the verges of roads in Ireland! We were in New Zealand in January, and nearly every road major and minor had wildflowers all along them. Just beautiful. Hey, I wonder if you could get funding from the Irish Tourist board to buy seeds?

[fuinnseog]

hi there,

Yes i can unfortunately vouch for the trees attracting the gangs of teenagers with their bag o' cans! But that doesn't mean we should not have trees. Just that more consideration does need to be given where they are planted. For example, in my neighbourhood they were planted along a green space that ran along the backs of peoples houses. So when the youths gathered it was too close to the house with resulant noise and rubbish being tipped over the walls into people gardens. The trees also gave access to the walls by climbing them and aided many a break in. And not to mention that the houses were being overshadowed by the trees. So for this reason groups of trees should not be planted close to peoples back walls in my opinion.

I would like to see more groups of trees being planted in the middle of green spaces to break up the linear shape that seems to be popular of most urban greenspaces. But trying to get more trees planted by the council is like trying to get blood out of a stone and of course the council won't take responsiblility for trees they don't plant themselves so when guerrillas plant them they should really think twice as they won't be round to look after them forever. If they get out of control they will simply be hacked down bythe council. Better to stick to smaller plants.

I love when people plant up those little squares around trees on the path, it looks so cheery. Unfortunately, again i've seen many squashed by dodgy car parking but accidents will happen. I'm aiming to do mine up this summer and include spring bulbs too.

Rachael mentioned that a lot of estates don't do much planting of their green areas. One of the reasons is the cost of getting big planters and plants etc. Simply seed bombing is better suited to more derelict areas than the grassy areas typical of estates, where it will simply be mown over or crushed by the ubuiquitous football. Our estate is in the process of trying to improve it's appearance with decorative signs and planting areas up but not receiving much support from the council at all. But we will persevere, not quite guerrilla style yet!

[medieval knievel]

[fuinnseog]

Yes MK, you'r right, i'm sure in the case of new estates they will take responsibility for existing planting schemes and of course green space is now a legal requirement for new developments.
However, in existing developments the council will not take responsibility for stuff they don't plant and if it gets in the way, it's chopped down.

[medieval knievel]

i've collected a few handfuls of seeds from the birch trees. if i keep them inside for the next couple of weeks, is there any danger of them drying out and dying?

was thinking of scattering them around some disturbed ground soon near some new estates which is not likely to be planted or cultivated.

[James Kilkelly, was GPI.]

[quote="medieval knievel"]i've collected a few handfuls of seeds from the birch trees. if i keep them inside for the next couple of weeks, is there any danger of them drying out and dying?
[/quote]

I wouldn't think so.
Pop them in a envelope, seal it and put it in a drawer or the back of a wardrobe in your coolest room.

[dinahdabble]

I have nothing against bonfires, as long as they're well managed, people clear up after them, and those who attend are not drunk or agressive. Most especially I quibble if they involve the burning of tires, formica and other plastic waste. A large bonfire used to happen just over the wall from our previous address, and unfortunately, it had all the features listed. I planted cabbages on the bonfire site and that year, the bonfire site mysteriously moved. Not very far, just over the brow of the hillock and a little to one side, but it was enough so the noise and the smoke wasn't quite so all-engulfing. There certainly seems to be something about a nice, orderly patch of healthy cabbages that generates an aura of tranquility, even respectability, preventing disturbance of the ground in the immediate vicinity. It's just a suggestion, but planting cabbages might be a way of managing all kinds of situations.

Dinahdabble.