The next meeting of our Colony Park Committee was scheduled for Sunday at 10:00 a.m. I recalled the forthcoming meeting several times leading up to the weekend but forgot at the designated time. Thankfully, was reminded by a phone call around 10:15 a.m and I moved swiftly to the venue; the chinar area of the park. One more member arrived after me and presented same reason for the delay. Participants were sitting in pairs or groups of three on benches; pulled or lifted from their designated spots and placed in a non-geometric shape for comfortable face-to-face interaction.
After the discussions on various agenda items, one of the members raised the issue of damage initiated by the mulberry tree in the walking path. For an on-site inspection, the members proceeded from the west to the east boundary of the 2.25-acre public park. While enjoying the late October sunshine, they took either the shortest rough route (while abundant spikes of the dry plants stuck to their trousers) through the park or used the leveled tiled surface of the peripheral path; developed last year by the U.T government under Smart City project.
Two committee members who regularly walk in the park pointed out cracks appearing in the tiles near the mulberry tree. They were apprehensive of more damage and inconvenience to the pedestrians in case the tree is not removed shortly. Chairman of the committee who had himself planted the tree several years prior to the development of the path and taken its due care till date hesitantly agreed to take out the tree but being an experienced and enthusiastic orchardist from apple town Sopore, tried to make the team understand the mechanism of the damage in detail. In a sober expression he elucidated that the roots are mistakenly considered the culprit.
However it is the enlarging trunk at the interface with the ground that slowly pushes away the hard concrete material along with the tiles. The roots primary, secondary and tertiary all spread in the soil at lower level making the mulberry trees woody, fast growing stem strong enough to hold the expanding canopy. They also help water retention and prevent soil erosion and may even fortify the retaining wall. He added that the mulberry tree growing along the outer border of the path may neither obstruct evening strolls of ladies nor the morning fresh air therapy of gents.
The suggestion of removing a few tiles along with the underlying concrete material followed by adding some loose soil to allow the tree grow safely without harming the path was taken somberly by one and all. My expression of fondness for this tree & another neighbour’s admission of parking the car under its shade provided due support to our chairman’s impulse. The arguments convinced the committee and the members unanimously decided to spare the tree.
While leaving the spot with a sigh of relief, a few ideas kept my mind engaged for hours. How much agony and threat the mulberry tree could have perceived on hearing our arguments and counter arguments? However I immediately comprehended that although incredibly responsive to their environment, the trees lack brain or consciousness and the auditory system. I then recalled that the life of this tree that started in the compound of Mr. Chairman when nature wanted a bird or wind to transfer its seed from an unknown and perhaps untraceable source.
The seedling had taken either an unimportant spot in the residential premises or was ignored as a baby plant. The next spring, it was transplanted inside the park adjacent to the nearest boundary wall. Mr. Chairman took personal interest to water the tree during initial draught days and at least twice saw him applying mud and gunny bags or cloth to cover large debarked patches caused by stripping or chewing by the stray ponies. During last one decade, the tree grew fast and its canopy spread full circle like an umbrella.
Seasonal changes in a mulberry tree provide a rich visual and sensory experience, offering different aesthetic qualities across the year. As temperatures rise in spring, the buds start to swell and leaves begin to emerge. In summer, toothed leaves grow larger, turn to vibrant dark green and provide a dense canopy that shades the area below. As temperatures drop in autumn, the leaves begin to turn yellow or golden and then to the shades of brown before shedding. The dormant (winter) phase reveals a stark and intricate network of branches as the tree was never subjected to pruning. The snow covered bare tree also gives a splendid look.
Birds (house sparrows, common mynas and bulbul) actively occupy branches of the mulberry tree and greet every passerby with pleasing music. Several pedestrians and two and four wheelers take some rest in the shaded area from late spring to middle of the autumn. Half a dozen territorial community dogs and string of wandering ponies also feel comfortable here not only in summers but also during spells of rain or snow. In the late autumn the shed leaves; highly palatable and full of protein are not less than a treat for the ruminants on move within the colony in search of fodder. The dry rustling leaves produce crunchy sound when stepped on.
The economic importance of the mulberry tree, especially in silk production, is remarkable. This tree is also regarded as a unique plant due to its wider distribution, cultivability, multiple uses of various parts and its positive impact in environmental safety. Just single tree is able to absorb more than four thousand kilograms of carbon dioxide and release more than three thousand kilograms of oxygen each year. The use in eco-restoration of degraded lands, bioremediation of polluted sites, conservation of water, prevention of soil erosion and improvement of air quality make this tree the most fitting plant for sustainable development. Every part of the mulberry is utilized in preparation of various products in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and health care.
Like people, trees are all individuals. They not only offer a multitude of benefits but also important lessons for city dwellers about resilience, community, and the balance between nature and human life. Indeed, as Wangari Maathai once said, ‘when we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and hope’. Through the enduring care for this single mulberry tree, Mr. Chairman and others like him nurture the harmony between human and nature, an effort that truly deserves appreciation.
(The Author is Ex-Prof. & Head, University Teaching Veterinary Hospital Shuhama, SKUAST-Kashmir. Feedback: [email protected])
