• To highlight the Department of Transport's commitment to European
Page 55
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Year of the Environment, David Mitchell, Minister of State for Transport, planted a tree last week.
To be more precise, he planted it by the Al at Bamsdale Bar near the site of a recently completed road junction. Mr Mitchell says roadside treeplanting is an extremely effective means of softening the visual impact of roads. In fact, the DTp is one of the country's major tree planters — more than 9,500 trees have been planted at Barnsdale Bar.
Napoleon used to plant trees along the long straight roads in France so they might offer some shade for the marching regiments on their way back from various wars.
I hope there is nothing sinister in the DTp's new hobby. The Department does seem to be indulging in this pastime with suspicious enthusiasm.