You must get the right species. Planting an oak 5m from a building in a shrinkable clay soil is asking for trouble but should we just eliminate risk and plant cherry trees?

• Planting any tree is good, provided it is not ailanthus altissima (Tree of Heaven)or another invasive species, but weedy ornamental trees are not very attractive & useful to wildlife. In Islington the council have planted a lot of these such trees lately eg Gingko. Vandals & drunks have destroyed many of these before they have become established. last year the council replanted one spot in York Way (near King’s Cross) three times after the trees were broken. People are pathetic. Dominic Stiles, London
• I totally agree, it angers me that in my road there is not one tree, and when councils do plant them it is the same limited choice of Flowering Cherry, Alder or Mountain Ash. What has happened to mighty Oaks, and soaring Poplars. Trees are not the problem it’s those who smash the pavements parking on them, and concrete over their gardens. We need more greenery in our towns. John Nelhams, London,UK
• I agree completely with saving urban trees but NOT to plant just any “fast-growing” tree to replace them. Here in the US we have major problems with invasive non-native trees that have literally taken over our woodlands and created a mono-culture tree farm of one species. The Chinese Tallow is one example. It is grows very fast, is worthless as lumber, provides very little use to wildlife, outcompetes the native vegataion needed by wildlife and spreads uncontrollably everywhere! You cannot kill it by cutting it down. Herbacide (with a permit) must be applied. Needless to say, it is a major bane to our wild areas here in Texas and many other areas of the US. If you replace trees USE NATIVE TREES!!! They belong there, the wildlife uses them to one degree or another, they grow well where they are found with far less care, water, etc. regardless of soil type, cold, heat, dry or wet conditions. Hey, that’s why they are “native”! Bill Tarbox, Magnolia, TX
• A small number of my neighbours have been lobbying the council to remove Lime Trees from our street on grounds that the sap is ‘damaging’ the paintwork of their cars. Thankfully, the council has so far ignored their pleading. Paul A, London

“You must get the right species. Planting an oak 5m from a building in a shrinkable clay soil is asking for trouble but should we just eliminate risk and plant cherry trees?” has No Responses