I have done another wee slideshow, this time about trees in Belfast and how some of them, as above, are dying. Just click on the picture.
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This is the blog of my journalism and recordings, with some extracts from my books too. I tend to sound off on Northern Ireland Politics and Culture. Some of the work here will be recent journalism, articles that have appeared in the Belfast Telegraph or elsewhere, but there is a lot of material going back a couple of years now, so please hang around and browse. Malachi
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Malachi O'Doherty 
Have a look at you tube on domhop1 and SallyAHopkins. I raised a similar problem in Northamptonshire last summer and was told it was too much water! I am extremely concerned at what is going on with the trees across the uk. I have continued to observe trees dying with the leaves browning and dropping off and limbs and whole trunks falling but am unable to persuade anyone in DEFRA of the Forestry Commission that there is a problem. What do I do?
I found this video very moving in a nature- lovers way. I definitely believe in the power of mankind to control his own environment and that these trees are dying because of some toxins in their soil or a change in soil ph. I think tests should be carried out to determine what has caused it if other trees die. The weather does affect vegetative growth, I notice that spring comes earlier than it used to and summer is shorter as well. I wonder if, because off our changing climate, will native trees die and tropical ones do better ?
I noticed the trees in Belfast were dying or dead around April and enquired via the Parks Dept as to the possible reason. At the time they didn’t have any specific answer, but were carrying out soil and other tests, and the Forestry Commission were involved with investigating. They said whatever it was seemed to be affecting primarily lime trees but others were also affected. It’s serious and they are treating it as such.
Hi, I have been noticing trees dying for about 15 years now. This year I have started to become very concerned by the sudden esculation. Every species and every age seem to be affected. I have also seen an esculation this year in trees in poor health, many parts of their canopy completely dead. I googled this and a number of web sites from America are detailing a rapid esculation in tree death with some very alarming forcasts for the near future rather than some time beyond our own lifetime. Just put dying trees in google search and you will find its a pretty gloomy picture.
Watching ‘The Road’ recently on DVD didnt help matters. It affected me so much I went and bought the book. The first time I’ve ever done things that way round. As a Probation Officer I’m not prone to over reacting or extreme thinking but I must admit I’ve been having some very worrying thoughts recently.
I own a woodland cabin in Charnwood Forest, Leics and trees are a great love of mine. However, so for that matter is the human race.
Stefan
Sad to say for us tree-lovers, trees of all species are dying off around the world. The primary, underlying cause is the rising level of tropospheric ozone. This invisible air pollution is toxic to vegetation.
Links to research, photos, articles here:
http://witsendnj.blogspot.com/p/basic-premise.html
Excerpt from the first in the list, Dr. Muir’s course notes:
Plants are generally more sensitive to O3 than are humans, with damage to some sensitive species occurring at concentrations as low as 0.04 ppm.
Ozone injury can take several forms:
1. Alterations in physiology, particularly decreased rates of photosynthesis in some species and altered carbohydrate allocation patterns. A common alteration is decreased allocation to roots and increased allocation to shoots, which makes the plant more vulnerable to drought.
2. Injury to membranes. Once inside the plant, ozone causes the production of secondary products, such as OH- radicals, organic free radicals, H2O2, and singlet O. All of these are oxidizing agents which appear to be responsible for its toxic effects.
Secondary consequences of ozone exposure then result somehow from #1 or 2, above. These secondary consequences include:
reduced growth and yield of fruits, vegetables, trees
increased vulnerability to insects and pathogens
As we’ll see below, we know from field and laboratory investigations that ambient levels of ozone in the US (and elsewhere too) are injuring both native and crop plants.
CHEMTRAILS!!!