The growing problem with our love of trees

In saying the above I wouldn't like you to think that I am influenced by the fact that a big tree overhangs my hovel, dropping various bits of tree-related detritus throughout the year causing an endless job of sweeping up, taking my light, sucking up all the water so nothing else will grow, and so on.

But I thought I would put an alternative viewpoint amid the current fashion for stories about nasty councils chopping down trees despite protests from local residents. Emotive terms are invoked, like "tree massacre."

What you don't normally hear is from the arborologists. That's what I thought they were called, but apparently the correct term is an arborist.

Saying you want to plant lots of trees is something people say these days to get green brownie points. It makes them sound all environmental.

Labour went into the last general election with a pledge to plant two billion trees by 2040, which would work out at more than a quarter of a million trees every day.

Quite apart from the effort that would require from the tree planting people, it did not make clear what would happen next.