Geoworks joins Causeway SpecifiedBy to make product specification simpler

Green, shaded streets aren’t just a nice visual feature - they’re fast becoming an essential part of sustainable development. In the face of rising temperatures, heavier rainfall and greater demand for healthy urban environments, trees play a critical role in making new neighbourhoods more liveable.

Picture a summer’s day in a new-build housing estate. The sun is blazing, pavements are radiating heat, and there’s not a patch of shade in sight. Now picture the same street lined with mature trees. Dappled light filters through the leaves. The air feels cooler. It’s still hot - but it’s comfortable.

That’s the cool street effect. And it’s something we’re going to need more of.

Tree roots are easy to overlook – they’re out of sight, underground. But that’s often how and why problems start.

When heavy machinery and frequent traffic disturb the soil, it can quickly become compacted. This reduces the flow of water and oxygen to the root zone, damaging the delicate network of roots and rhizomes that trees rely on to stay healthy. Without access to essential nutrients, trees begin to struggle, and in many cases, die off entirely.