Tree care?

A walk in the park in the coldness and dormancy of winter, but also, yet again, the 'tree care' team has been unnecessarily busy in the park…leaving a trail of disfigured trees in their wake (some have been removed in totality). The park looks, for the most part, strikingly ugly – few mature tree forms have escaped. Even the ground looks acutely barren, as the autumn leaves were removed. As one walks along many of the paths the stink of the artificially produced mulch that has been spread liberally about is rather unpleasant to breath in.

Another winter Sunday afternoon. The sun is out and the trees sawn-off branches stand aloft starkly. It's unexpectedly mild and the park is busy, but in keeping with the brutality of the tree hacking, a domestic dog tears after a squirral and – unusually – this time the squirral doesn't skillfully escape. The dog's owner is shouting out loudly, to no avaii. The dog is streadfast, totally intent on its kill – it runs excited in circles with the squirral dangling between its jaws . The squirrals distress screams fill the immediate vicinity and beyond, easily audible over the ordinary park soundscape, although mixing in with the screams of child's play. And then absent. I continue my walk around the park, but this brief entry-moment of horrer lingers along with the hacked trees that also accompany me.