46-509: The Happy Man Tree was a London plane in the Woodberry Down area of Hackney , London, which was awarded Tree of The Year for 2020 by the Woodland Trust . The tree was the subject of a dispute between Berkeley Homes and members of the local community over plans for it to be cut down to enable new home construction. A petition to save the tree with 22,000 signatures was delivered to
92-595: A go at the Government and at the Conservatives. So I can't both be the editor and a parliamentary candidate." Andrew Wasley, who joined the organisation in 2010, edited The Ecologist' s website and newsletters. Oliver Tickell was appointed as the editor in October 2013. Brendan Montague became the editor in October 2017. Contributors to The Ecologist have included Jonathon Porritt , Mark Lynas , Paul Kingsnorth, who
138-686: A platform for academic writers who were concerned about the world around them. Thirty-nine years later The Ecologist was still a source of information on issues such as climate change, globalisation and sustainable economics. Edward Goldsmith was the editor from its foundation in 1970 until 1990, and then again from 1997 until 1998 whilst supporting his nephew, Zac Goldsmith . Former editors include Nicholas Hildyard, Peter Bunyard, Patrick McCully , Sarah Sexton, Simon Fairlie, Paul Kingsnorth (deputy editor), Malcolm Tait (managing editor), Harry Ram (managing editor), Jeremy Smith and Pat Thomas . When Hildyard left in 1997, Edward Goldsmith’s initial intention
184-411: A small academic journal with an initial circulation of only 400, to one of the world’s leading environmental affairs magazines with monthly sales (including subscriptions and newsstand) of 20,000. As the magazine grew, its coverage became broader and its style more journalistic. The Ecologist covered topics including food, climate change, news, corporate affairs, chain stores, chemicals, pesticides and
230-504: A technique called pollarding . A pollarded tree has a drastically different appearance than an unpruned tree, being much shorter with stunted, club-like branches. Although pollarding requires frequent maintenance (the trees must usually be repruned every year), it creates a distinctive shape that is often sought after in plazas, main streets, and other urban areas. According to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
276-469: A wide range of environmental subjects and promoted an ecological systems thinking approach through its news stories, investigations and opinion articles. The Ecologist encouraged its readers to tackle global issues on a local scale. After cessation of its print edition in July 2009, The Ecologist continued as an online magazine. In mid-2012, it merged with Resurgence magazine, edited by Satish Kumar , with
322-431: Is a tree in the genus Platanus . It is often known by the synonym Platanus × acerifolia , a later name. It is a hybrid of Platanus orientalis (oriental plane) and Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore). The London plane is a large deciduous tree growing 20–40 m (65–130 ft), exceptionally to 50 m (160 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 10 m (33 ft) in circumference. The bark
368-517: Is commonly used because of its resilience to warm weather, its benefits as a shade tree , resistance to breakage and tolerance of urban pollution. In Johannesburg , South Africa many London planes line streets in older suburbs. In recent years the trees have been infested with the Polyphagous shot hole borer beetle ( Euwallacea fornicatus ). Some trees are reportedly developing resistance mechanisms but there are currently no effective measures against
414-453: Is most commonly found growing in lowlands and alluvial soils along streams. The species was formed by hybridization in the 17th century after P. orientalis and P. occidentalis had been planted in proximity to one another. It is most likely that the hybridization took place in Spain or southern France, as the P. occidentalis parent needs considerable summer heat to grow well and
460-585: Is near-impossible to grow successfully in cooler climates like Britain, but there is also speculation that it could have happened in Vauxhall Gardens in London where John Tradescant the Younger saw the tree in the mid-17th century. The leaf and flower characteristics are intermediate between the two parent species, the leaf being more deeply lobed than P. occidentalis but less so than P. orientalis , and
506-436: Is usually pale grey-green, smooth and exfoliating, or buff-brown and not exfoliating. The leaves are thick and stiff-textured, broad, palmately lobed, superficially maple -like, the leaf blade 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long and 12–25 cm (5–10 in) broad, with a petiole 3–10 cm (1–4 in) long. The young leaves in spring are coated with minute, fine, stiff hairs at first, but these wear off and by late summer
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#1732872182560552-611: The Mayor of Hackney in June 2020, with the high court granting an injunction to stop protesters blocking the demolition work granted two days later. The tree was ultimately cut down in January 2021. The Happy Man Tree was situated just off Seven Sisters Road in Hackney. It can be seen on an Ordnance Survey map dating from 1870. It was named due to its proximity to a now-demolished flat-roofed pub called
598-460: The P. orientalis by P. occidentalis cross using a P. orientalis of Turkish origin with American sycamores ( P. occidentalis ). The offspring were evaluated following several years of exposure to anthracnose infection. Two selections, 'Columbia' and 'Liberty', were released in August, 1984. Platanus × hispanica was first formally described in the botanical literature by
644-575: The 10 years that Zac Goldsmith was editor, he developed The Ecologist into a more conventional-looking publication that could compete visually with other current affairs titles, while still maintaining its diverse content. In 2005 he became advisor to Conservative leader David Cameron 's Quality of Life Policy Group , and in 2010 became Member of Parliament for Richmond . His influence continued in supporting The Ecologist financially but Goldsmith stepped down as editor in June 2007, saying, "The magazine has to remain impartial and feel free to have
690-474: The 14,000 copies of the edition. The issue was ultimately printed by a small London printer and went on to become the most-sold issue of The Ecologist ever. Edward Goldsmith, founder of The Ecologist , was born in 1928 in Paris and was the first major influence on the publication. With the inheritance left to him by his father, Major Frank Goldsmith , Edward fulfilled his idea of creating a magazine which doubled as
736-615: The German botanist Otto von Münchhausen in his 1770 work der Hausvater . Later, it was described in the botanical literature by the Scottish botanist William Aiton in his 1789 work Hortus Kewensis as a variety of P. orientalis . Aiton described this variety with a two-word Latin diagnosis, "foliis transversis", and called it the Spanish plane tree. In 1805, Carl Ludwig Willdenow chose to elevate Aiton's variety to species rank, publishing
782-464: The Happy Man Tree, to launch a petition to save the tree. They also launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of a legal challenge to prevent the tree from being cut down. As part of the campaign, local community members installed artworks at the site, hung a banner with the hashtag #NoticeThisTree, decorated the tree with lights and a disco ball and had a professional flautist play in
828-527: The Happy Man. A 2019 arboricultural report details that at that time it was a mature tree of good physiological and structural condition. It was described as a tree of "high quality with an estimated remaining life expectancy of at least 40 years" and a "particularly good example" of its species. In addition to its Tree of the Year award, it was also The Guardian newspaper's tree of the week in July 2020. The tree
874-508: The Human Environment at Stockholm in 1972. This period also saw the establishment of leading environmental organisations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth . The Ecologist was created in 1970 by Edward Goldsmith as a forum for himself and other academics to publish papers that were deemed too radical to be published in other magazines or the mainstream press. It progressed from
920-756: The May 2012 issue. In June 2012 The Ecologist merged with Resurgence Magazine . A new, merged Resurgence & Ecologist print publication appeared in September 2012. The Ecologist continues to publish online with new articles added daily. As global concern and campaigning around climate change has increased, The Ecologist has focused more firmly on climate change and its consequences, becoming more 'activist' in its approach and orienting its content towards campaigners for climate justice. Its 2023-6 Strategy document outlines: The environment movement has, because of climate breakdown, become increasingly aware and concerned about
966-747: The Woodland Trust, acknowledged the Berkeley development's "great work" to provide "important social housing". However, he also said that "given the developer's own admission that this tree could have been retained if plans were amended earlier in the consultation process, we must call this out for being a poor decision". He believes the tree's legacy should be that England's planning system "should protect existing trees and local voices must be listened to when decisions on local trees and woods are made". Platanus %C3%97 hispanica The London plane , or sometimes hybrid plane , Platanus × hispanica ,
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#17328721825601012-549: The Woodland Trust, attributed to lockdowns causing people to take more note of nature on their doorsteps. As part of the award, the Friends of the Happy Man Tree campaign group was given a £1,000 tree care award by the People's Postcode Lottery . The group said it was exploring using the funds to raise awareness about the value of mature trees in the local area. In the announcement of the award's winner, Adam Cormack, head of campaigning for
1058-442: The area by over 150 per cent". During England's spring COVID-19 lockdown , the tree was nominated for the Woodland Trust's annual Tree of the Year contest by parents and children who pass it on the way to school, with The Ecologist reporting that those who nominated it "believe it is vital that a tree which plays a part in making the air cleaner for the community is saved". After shortlisting by an independent panel of judges,
1104-497: The borer beetle and it remains unclear how many trees will have to be cut down. The London plane is cultivated in central, northeastern and southern China . When quarter-sawn , the timber has a distinctive and highly decorative appearance of dark reddish-brown flecks against a lighter background and is known as lacewood . The Ecologist The Ecologist was a British environmental journal/magazine, published from 1970 to 2009. Founded by Edward Goldsmith , it addressed
1150-457: The city of Ely, Cambridgeshire . The London plane is very tolerant of atmospheric pollution and root compaction, and for this reason it is a popular urban roadside tree. It was planted extensively in Victorian times to weather the pollution of London. It is now extensively cultivated in most temperate latitudes as an ornamental and parkland tree, and is a commonly planted tree in cities throughout
1196-484: The corporatisation of the mass media. It was accused of being both left and right wing in its agenda, but did not follow the doctrine of any specific movement. It claimed to help readers ‘rethink basic assumptions’ about the world. On 8 April 2009, The Ecologist announced that it was relaunching solely online and that the July issue would be its last print edition. The website launched on 19 June 2009. Publication of The Ecologist's online, monthly newsletters ceased with
1242-417: The delivery of 584 much needed new homes, including 243 affordable homes, many of which are for people living in substandard accommodation elsewhere on Woodberry Down". Berkeley Homes and Hackney Council sought an injunction against the peaceful protesters, who were blocking the removal of the tree. Supporters of the tree were "devastated" when this injunction to stop protesters blocking their demolition work
1288-418: The first issue of the new Resurgence & Ecologist appearing in print in September 2012. The Ecologist was based in London. The Ecologist emerged from the first wave of environmental awareness that followed the seminal book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson , which highlighted the dangers of bio-accumulative pesticides within food chains, and that culminated in the first United Nations Conference on
1334-480: The impacts of the fossil fuel economy on society and on nature. The Ecologist provides information that is vital to all the campaigns attempting to end the fossil fuel economy and usher in an era of renewable energy and regenerative alternatives from degrowth policies to Green New Deals. It has also developed a more explicit anti-capitalist line than under Goldsmith's leadership, with its 2023-6 Strategy document arguing: "the impacts of unregulated capitalist economies on
1380-421: The leaves are hairless or nearly so. The flowers are borne in one to three (most often two) dense spherical inflorescences on a pendulous stem, with male and female flowers on separate stems. The fruit matures in about 6 months, to 2–3 centimetres (0.8–1.2 in) diameter, and comprises a dense spherical cluster of achenes with numerous stiff hairs which aid wind dispersal; the cluster breaks up slowly over
1426-630: The magazine financially afloat for years." A recommendation of the Blueprint led directly to the creation of the PEOPLE Party which became the Ecology Party and then the Green Party (UK) . A Blueprint for Survival follows through the consequences of what happens when humans disrupt the ecosystems in which they exist. It explains that when these systems are disrupted, they alter other ecosystems all over
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1472-472: The natural environment globally are devastating, representing an existential threat to human societies and life itself in the medium to long term." In 1972, The Ecologist published A Blueprint for Survival (1972), to which an entire issue was dedicated. Writing in the Guardian newspaper , former contributor Fred Pearce described it as "a radical green manifesto that went on to sell 750,000 copies and kept
1518-469: The new species P. acerifolia in the fourth edition of Species Plantarum . The species name was then modified to include the multiplication symbol to indicate its suspected hybrid parentage. Two of 50 " Great British Trees " that the Tree Council selected in 2002 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee are London planes. The list specifically mentions Britain's first London plane being in
1564-470: The public "overwhelmingly" voted the Happy Man Tree as England's winner. It beat nine shortlisted rivals, including runner up, the Grantham oak, whose own encounter with housing planning was referenced in the Woodland Trust's announcement of the Happy Man Tree's win. The 2020 contest saw double the number of trees nominated by members of the public than in previous years, which Darren Moorcroft, chief executive of
1610-696: The seed balls typically two per stem (one in P. occidentalis , 3–6 in P. orientalis ). The hybrid is fertile, and seedlings are occasionally found near mature trees. Controlled reciprocal pollinations between P. occidentalis and P. orientalis resulted in good yields of germinable seed and true hybrid seedlings. Crosses of both species, as females, with P. racemosa and P. wrightii produced extremely low yields of germinable seed, but true hybrids were obtained from all interspecific combinations. Apomixis (asexual reproduction from non-fertilized seeds) appeared common in P. orientalis . In 1968 and 1970, Frank S. Santamour Jr. recreated
1656-481: The short, stiff hairs shed by the young leaves and the dispersing seeds; these are an irritant if breathed in, and can exacerbate breathing difficulties for people with asthma. The vigorous roots can also cause problems with paving in cities, making uneven surfaces with tripping hazards. The large leaves can create a disposal problem in cities, as they are tough and sometimes can take more than one year to break down if they remain whole. London planes are often pruned by
1702-560: The symbol of that organization is a cross between the leaf of the London plane and a maple leaf. It is prominently featured on signs and buildings in public parks across the city. The tree is on the NYC Parks Department's list of restricted use species for street tree planting , because it constitutes more than 10% of all street trees. In Australia , the London plane is used extensively as a street tree in major cities, particularly Sydney , Melbourne , Adelaide and Perth . The tree
1748-483: The temperate regions of the world, in London and many other cities. It has a greater degree of winter cold tolerance than P. orientalis , and is less susceptible to anthracnose disease than P. occidentalis . The tree has gained the Royal Horticultural Society of Great Britain's Award of Garden Merit . The tree is fairly wind-resistant. However, it has a number of problems in urban use, most notably
1794-459: The tree. On 24 June, protesters delivered the petition to save the tree with 22,000 signatures and an axe made from papier-mâché to the Labour Mayor of Hackney , asking him if he was "prepared to strike the first blow". Hackney Council argued that the tree would cause "design harm and reduction in affordable housing", with a spokesperson for Berkeley claiming that felling the tree would "enable
1840-461: The winter to release the numerous 2–3 mm (0.08–0.12 in) seeds. The London Plane is one of the most efficient trees in removing small particulate pollutants in urban areas. It shares many visual similarities with American sycamore ( Platanus occidentalis ), from which it is derived; however, the two species are relatively easy to distinguish, considering the London plane is almost exclusively planted in urban habitats, while American sycamore
1886-465: The world. Written in an age before climate change was understood, A Blueprint for Survival stands as one of the earliest forecasts of many of the environmental problems the world faces today. In the ' Monsanto ' issue of September 1998, The Ecologist assembled a selection of articles critical of agri-business giant Monsanto’s environmental record. The Ecologist's printing firm at the time, Penwells, feared libel litigation from Monsanto and pulped
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1932-483: Was around 150 years old when it was felled as part of the Woodberry Down Estate regeneration project in January 2021. Berkeley Homes was involved in a dispute with environmental campaigners over the tree; the developer wanted to remove it as part of regeneration work on Woodberry Down estate. Hackney residents started to camp overnight by the tree on 19 May 2020 after there were signs that work to cut it down
1978-412: Was beginning, such as workmen putting fences around the tree. That day, the Mayor of Hackney , Philip Glanville tweeted an apology for the distress caused, explaining that "the tree is not being felled today", and saying that he had asked for an urgent update, acknowledging that there had not been responses to emails received and the petition. A group of local residents formed an association, Friends of
2024-670: Was granted by the High Court on 26 June 2020. The injunction became active in December 2020, prompting the Hackney Gazette to report that it "could be felled 'imminently'". Mayor Philip Glanville said that, while a way to avoid removing this tree without delays to the development could not be found, there would instead be 175 new trees planted, along with creation of a new public park and "the equivalent of 19 tennis courts of new open spaces". Berkeley say they will be "increasing biodiversity in
2070-513: Was that the Board of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC), directed by Helena Norberg-Hodge , should manage The Ecologist . Instead, Zac Goldsmith, who was then working for ISEC, became editor, as the other members of ISEC were occupied with other projects. Zac Goldsmith, born in 1975, joined at 22 years old as an intern before becoming editor of The Ecologist . In
2116-409: Was the magazine's deputy editor from 1999 to 2001, Tom Hodgkinson , Joss Garman , Chris Busby and Georgina Downs . In its magazine format, The Ecologist had an average circulation of 20,000 per issue. In its online incarnation, in addition to the website there was a weekly e-newsletter and a monthly subscriber PDF newsletter, the last issue of which was published in May 2012. The Ecologist has
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