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Trees as Anchors

Trees, as well as the shade they provide, act as anchors that allow several activities to take place. While trees themselves act as spatial anchors that provide elements such as branches, trunks, etc., that can support various activities (like vending displays, hanging banners, or setting up light fixtures), the shade provided by a tree’s canopy also allows several activities to anchor themselves. These activities may be social, economic, or other in nature.

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The shade of trees, thus, acts as a physical anchor that facilitates several phenomena - it facilitates local commerce, it acts as a place of pause or rest, it creates a place for gathering and leisure, to name some, but most importantly, it caters to people belonging to all classes, genders and abilities. 

 

When shade allows users to occupy spaces, it allows several footpath businesses to flourish. For example, our primary data demonstrates how the shade of a tree often acts as an ‘attraction’ on various levels. First, it attracts crowds of people seeking respite. These crowds, in turn, act as attractions to various types of commerce, especially those supporting the acts of gathering, waiting or pausing - such as juice or food stalls. For such footpath businesses that may occupy parts of the street over long stretches in a day, the shade of a tree allows them to anchor themselves to the space.

 

Apart from this, as discussed above, the different parts of a tree also help footpath businesses to anchor themselves. For example, the branches of a tree may be where shopkeepers hang their displays, or they may act as physical elements that allow business owners to hang a piece of tarpaulin for extra shade and protection from rain. For many barbers on the footpath, the tree trunk may even act as an anchor that allows barbers to set up mirrors, or store their tools.

Have you seen trees act as anchors to other activities? Share your stories with us!

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