‘’A man doesn’t plant a tree for himself, he plants it for future generations," Alexander Smith Often, getting cool shade under a tree has become a luxury in Bengaluru. Especially during summer or on a hot day, you can see people and animals standing in the shade of a building, rather than a tree. However, all is not lost. There are people who have planted and nurtured trees, contributing to the preservation of the city’s green canopy. I came across a beautiful majestic banyan tree just in front of Lalbagh, double roadside entrance. I was admiring the sheer size of…
Read moreIf Bengaluru wants to maintain its last remaining lakes and trees, citizens need to take an active interest in preserving them. If the last decade is any indication, collaborations between BBMP and citizen-led groups have led to the revival of many of its lakes. Here is how a group of dedicated activists/citizens have been maintaining their neighbourhood lake along with the trees in the surroundings. First the lake, then the trees Lower Ambalipura Lake is a seven-acre lake with two acres of wetland. The water body is surrounded by apartments - SJR Redwoods, SJR Park Vista, Mantri Flora and Trinity…
Read moreAn apartment complex conjures an image of rows of buildings, with amenities like swimming pool, play areas, manicured lawns and alien trees. These complexes are considered 'concrete jungles' and are not really known for their biodiversity. But the residents of SJR Redwoods Apartments have broken this myth - they have converted their premises into a food forest. This apartment complex off Sarjapura Road has 152 flats, and is situated on a five-acre property of which two acres is common land. How we created a zero-waste food forest Our garden used to generate six tonnes of waste per month, which had…
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