Straits Times Forum 28 Jun 13;
I LIVE in Transit Road, off Upper Thomson Road. The sight of huge old trees with many big bird's nest ferns growing on them worries me, as they may fall on people walking by.
Recently, I spotted a fallen bird's nest fern as big as a microwave oven by the side of the pavement along Upper Thomson Road.
I urge the relevant authorities to remove all oversized bird's nest ferns that are growing on the trees planted by the National Parks Board.
Also, pruning the large branches of these trees will prevent such ferns from growing on them.
As the branches get old and weak, the danger is even greater as the additional weight of the huge ferns may cause them to break, and perhaps hit passers-by or vehicles.
Chan Kah Fai
Tree management programme cuts risk
Straits Times Forum 5 Jul 13;
WE THANK Mr Chan Kah Fai for his feedback ("Giant ferns on trees pose danger"; Forum Online, last Friday).
Bird's nest ferns are part of the rich diversity of urban plants in our unique cityscape. Most of these ferns do not pose any danger to the public.
As part of our tree management programme, we will remove the bird's nest ferns if they are assessed to pose a risk to public safety.
Oh Cheow Sheng
Director, Streetscape
National Parks Board
