Three years ago, the trees across the road looked a sorry sight -

 Moments before, the large one looked like this, about to blaze out in its autumnal glory -

As the drone of the saws and crusher went on and on, I cried. But even in the city, nature is a force to be reckoned with, and here are the trees now. Not as shapely as before, but still providing welcome greenery -

They are ash trees, though - the latest species to be threatened by virulent disease - ash dieback. What was that the poet said ... "Look thy last on all things lovely / Every hour..."