The environmental quality of any development site residential commercial or industrial can be improved by retaining mature trees. In addition to their ornamental value trees provide shelter and screening and they can also act as a filter to dust and noise.
Trees also give an air of maturity to a new development.
These qualities are appreciated by many developers who realise that greater financial returns can be expected from a site which has mature trees. It is desirable therefore in the interests of both the developer and public amenity to retain as many trees on a site as are compatible with the needs of the development. In order to live a tree must be able to breathe through its leaves and to absorb sufficient quantities of water and nutrients through its roots from reasonably aerated soil. Mature trees grow within a delicate balance of soil moisture nutrients aeration drainage and micro-climate. If any of these conditions is disturbed by construction activities on the site the health of a tree will be impaired.