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2010-08-02 Yarra Park 3718

This is Paddock 8. In the middle is a cricket pitch where kids play, emulating their sporting heroes. Not much chance now when the ground is hogged by cars on weekends and churned to mud.

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2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3721

Well now, what is this right next to our beautiful dead gum tree? Could this be the murder weapon? Let's have a closer look. Read on ...

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2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3724

This looks rather like the cause of death. Twice a week, whenever something is on at the MCG, this truck shuffles back and forward over the roots of this fine gum tree. No wonder it has thrown in the towel. It has gone the way of many such trees in Yarra Park. Scores are now dead...

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2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3724A 3722

Can this tree last much longer? The Morton Bay figs have very long roots very close to the surface. The severe damage they suffered during the drought demonstrated how vulnerable they are.

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2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3725

first ‹ previous 35 of 88 next › last 2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3725 Open full image ↗ And this little tree - what chance does it have? Is anyone taking responsibility here? Acknowledgments Photograph by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 35 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3726

And this tree? Cars frequently driving over the roots can only lead to damage and an early death.

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2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3727

These trees had mulch put around them when the Park was under the managemnent of the City of Melbourne and cars were prevented from driving over the mulch. This year the mulch has been driven over so much it is barely visible.

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2010-08-07 Yarra Park 3728

As for the heritage elm trees? They were mulched extensively by the City of Melbourne, knowing how vulnerable they are, but once more the cars are unrestrained.

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 01 3750

Well, it's now the 13th of August, 11 days since we started this photographic essay. Melbourne has had 22 millimetres of rain in the last three days, not much less than an inch. Has that stopped the parking at Yarra Park? No. Neither for the health of the park nor the safety of p...

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3735

Both of these cars are parked less than one metre from the trunk of this tree. Tyre marks skirt the tree on this side. One tree guard has disappeared. Oh dear, this tree is not long for this world.

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3736

This truck is parked less than 2 metres from the trunk of the plane tree. All of the cars drove over the mulch and within a metre or two of a tree to get to their parking spots.

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3737

first ‹ previous 42 of 88 next › last 2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3737 Open full image ↗ This heavy truck is going to destroy this tree. Acknowledgments Photo by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 42 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3739

first ‹ previous 43 of 88 next › last 2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3739 Open full image ↗ One large plane tree. Two cars parked within a metre of its trunk. Acknowledgments Photo by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 43 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3740

first ‹ previous 44 of 88 next › last 2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3740 Open full image ↗ Another tree, another car. Acknowledgments Photo by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 44 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3742

The tyre marks show that the car drove over the mulch within half a metre of the tree trunk.

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3743

first ‹ previous 46 of 88 next › last 2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3743 Open full image ↗ Cars, tree trunk and tyre marks tell the story again. Acknowledgments Photo by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 46 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3744

first ‹ previous 47 of 88 next › last 2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3744 Open full image ↗ Little cars, big cars, it makes no difference. Acknowledgments Photo by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 47 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3745

first ‹ previous 48 of 88 next › last 2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3745 Open full image ↗ Newly laid mulch and the cars drive straight over the top. Acknowledgments Photo by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 48 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3746

Same truck every weekend. It has killed the little tree and now the big tree is dead.

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3747

Another truck which has reversed straight over the shallow roots of the Morton Bay fig tree.

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3748

first ‹ previous 51 of 88 next › last 2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3748 Open full image ↗ Top soil eroded from the park fills the gutters. Acknowledgments Photo by Graham Shepherd first ‹ previous 51 of 88 next › last

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3749

This car drove straight over the roots of this elm tree within a metre of its trunk.

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3751

A very nice parking attendant told me that they were instructed not to allow cars to park within 3 metres of the trunk of a large tree and under no circumstances were they to park on the mulch. What about this one? Oh, that's OK. It's only a little tree and this car will be gone...

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2010-08-13 Yarra Park 3752

Another car has driven straight over the roots of this elm tree passing within a metre of its trunk.