The Reader: Trees help stop floods, so let’s get planting

Britain needs more trees — it is one of the few things our parties agree on, with the Tories and Lib Dems unveiling ambitious planting plans, and Labour soon to do so. They’re mainly touted as a means to tackle climate change, but one aspect largely missing from the debate is their role in flood prevention.

In London, trees help to create well-drained soil to suck in excess water which would otherwise overwhelm our Victorian sewers and flood the streets. They are even more important in upland countryside areas, where targeted, well-planned tree planting can help to avoid dangerous flooding downstream.

The Thames Barrier is set to protect London from the worst flooding until about 2030, but other parts of the country are not so fortunate — as recent events have shown. We need to adopt a similarly long-term approach now to prepare for the worst that our increasingly unpredictable weather is going to throw at us.
John Marrow

Editor's reply

Dear John
You are right that planting more trees is an important part of the response to climate change. It is not possible to say at present whether the recent floods in northern England and other regions are linked to global warming, but there is certainly a trend towards more extreme weather.

So the UK and other countries need to improve their flood defences, as well as preparing to deal with other weather events such as heatwaves. While the seriousness of the challenge should not be underestimated, there are positive signs. Climate change and tackling air pollution have both shot up

the political agenda as public understanding has grown. Much of the pressure for change has been driven by young people.

A warmer climate may also bring benefits as well as threats, such as more pleasant spring, summer and autumn days. And, if it gets too hot, more trees would offer shade for humans and other creatures.
Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor

Democracy is a privilege, so vote

The election on December 12 is one of the most significant for directing the future path of our country. However, as an active member of the British Chinese community, I know that many people will not be eligible to express their view simply because they have not registered to vote.

We are privileged to live in a democracy which means that voting allows us to decide who will make laws and important decisions. But there is also a responsibility for us all to help shape the best future for our home. Registration is not difficult and must be completed by November 26. Don’t lose your voice, register today.
Lady Xuelin Bates, Secretary general of UK Chinese Business Association

Climate cost of a trip to paradise

How tempting the description of the beautiful beaches of St Martin and how uplifting the story of recovery after Hurricane Irma. But the article makes no mention of the sledgehammer you take to the environment to get there. Two return flights will release three to four tonnes of CO2 into those idyllic skies.

Climate change will acidify the clear waters around these islands and make hurricanes more likely. So keep telling us about these exotic locations but also tell us the real cost of getting there. Publish CO2 emissions.
Jay Shah

Do more to keep NHS staff we have​

Further to David Blott’s letter [“Train more NHS staff in Britain”, November 18], as a nurse who worked in the NHS for 20 years, I can tell him that first we need to retain the staff we have. We must, amongst other things, provide 24/7 crèches for working parents, not charge staff to park at work, end 12-hour shifts and make it easier to return to work after a career break.

As for training nurses in the UK, we need to shorten courses to two years and heavily promote nursing as a career to school leavers.
Ian Brown

Signs are for good

I admire the courage of residents of Columbia Road in Shoreditch for putting up a “needle-free zone” road sign in an area blighted by drugs [“Blight off our streets: drug dealers jailed after crimes highlighted in road signs”, November 18]. Hopefully this will inspire others to erect signs saying “no pavement cyclists” or “litter-free zone” to raise awareness.
Stan Labovitch