Shade in the City
Shade and Memory
A tree, along with the extent of its shade, carves out a ‘place’ within a ‘space’, and acts as a landmark in a spatial setting. Trees, unless subjected to tree-felling activities, also act as permanent elements of any spatial context - while a space itself may change drastically over time due to development, a tree stands as a reminiscence of past times.
Our collected data suggests that across several Indian contexts, people who have occupied a particular space over a period of time often refer to certain trees in their surroundings as markers of old times, especially if the space surrounding the tree has undergone drastic chances. Often, the said tree remains the only constant in a transformed space.
Have you experienced shade and trees creating collective memories? Tell us about your experience!
