THE events of the past two weeks have confirmed my suspicions about human sanity.
Clearly, levels of consciousness are at an all time low.
For the past four years we have been privileged to live in the shade of an enormous wild fig tree. It stands approximately 25m tall on a neighbouring property. The branches stretch out like giant green arms covering our front garden. We have had such pleasure observing the birdlife.
Over the "festive season" the property was sold and the new owners decided that this tree must come down (without as much as a word to us). Its roots are cracking the floor and wall of their garage and its beautiful green canopy is casting too much shade?
Did I mention that more than three quarters of their property has plenty of sun? So this garage, tatty at best, has more value than a tree that has been standing tall for at least 70 years?
What a disgrace! Not to mention that the howling whine of a chainsaw day in and day out for more than a week is not conducive to creativity, so home- based work has come to a grinding halt and our sanity is barely intact.
Why don't people who don't appreciate trees buy properties without them? We see far more birds in the wild fig than in our milkwoods. My thought is that these indigenous living landmarks should be protected by law and we are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this goal.
Our offering to pay for the tree to be cut back but not destroyed fell on deaf ears.
Kym Surmon, Port Alfred
Letters
| Letters
