If you love trees and green space, you might be surprised to learn that many public parks are now being improved or newly established in Bangkok. This study tour explores some of these gardened oases and the remarkable people and stories behind them. After years of neglect, the city is expanding public green space and taking better care of trees. At least 22 new parks are being planned or have...

Tracking down Bangkok’s missing ‘tree surgeons’ 9 December 2018 With strong winds, heavy rains and wobbling root tap systems, trees along streets are often deemed as the cause of accidents. The latest fatal case took place in May last year when a large tree situated in front of the Alma Link Building near the Central Chidlom Department Store toppled over after it was shaken by heavy rain and...

Hang tough: To protect urban trees, the Thailand Urban Tree Network, a local civic group, held the 'Thailand Tree Climbing Championship (TTCC) 2018' at Lumpini Park to raise awareness about tree conservation and provide professional training by tree surgeons — known as "arborists". (Photos by Chanat Katanyu) Koh Loy, a small water park, is known as a quiet oasis within Lumpini Park. However,...

After years of neglect, plans for more parks and trees are taking root in Thai metropolis Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park was central Bangkok's first new park in three decades when it was completed in 2017. The design captures rainfall for flood control and dry season irrigation. (Courtesy of Landprocess) BRIAN MERTENS, Contributing writerSeptember 11, 2020...

  A shady story A decade after their first mission to stop a mature tree being felled, the Big Trees Project is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the “BigTrees Festival 2020” on December 11-13 at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. The festival features a variety of activities – talks, workshops, games, shopping and an exhibition – that allow the public to thank big trees for making...

A Bodhi tree near Klong Ku Muang, behind the Supreme Court, which the Big Trees Project helped convince the Defence Ministry and City Hall to keep. Picture courtesy of Big Tree Project The Big Trees Project is celebrating its 10th birthday this month. In 2010, a group of young people was dismayed by the lack of green space in Bangkok. While the city had advanced exponentially in infrastructure,...