Introduction of social activities by inhabitants of a ward writer "Kohoku New Town Green Association"

Interview, photo (including borrowing) ・ sentence = inhabitant of a ward writer Akiko Iida

At the time of 1983 when Mr. Nagata came to Kohoku New Town, it seems that this was a bamboo shoot. The bamboo grove was purchased by the Japan Housing Corporation at the time for urban development, but it was no longer maintained and densely populated, eroded even where it was originally a coppice forest. The public corporation initially planned to cut all the trees and plant trees for the park. On the other hand, local residents want to preserve their original nature. It was supposed to be managed by the residents. Therefore, 23 residents, including Mr. Nagata, started the activities of the Keyakigaoka Forest Protection Association in 1983. This is the beginning of Mr. Nagata's local activities, which lasted for more than 40 years.
Most of the members, except Mr. Nagata, were from Tokyo. Mr. Nagata was born in Hida Kanayama, Gifu Prefecture, and when he was in elementary school, he had participated in cutting a large amount of wind-down trees that came out of the Typhoon Ise Bay, so he taught everyone how to use tools such as saws and saws. .

After that, activities to protect nature will be expanded to many groups, such as "Kamoike Park Protection Association" and "Otsuka Toshikatsudo Ruins Park Protection Association". Then, in November 1992, the "Kohoku New Town Green Association" was launched as a liaison meeting for those groups, which increased to about 20. While compiling each group, we are now focusing on improving the abilities of citizens, such as natural ecology, management skills, and development, centered on the "Zoom Forest School".
Why did Mr. Nagata continue to protect nature for more than 40 years while changing its shape? Around 1983, Kohoku New Town had pheasants, rabbits and Raccoon Dog. The green path of Kohoku New Town is made using valley-shaped wetlands between hills called Tando. Mr. Nagata says, "Because wild animals move through there, it is useless to maintain only one place, and I want to leave the nature of the entire area so that creatures can coexist. The only way to do that is to leave as much as possible as a natural forest."

I heard about the current activities of the "Kohoku New Town Green Association". There are about 50 members. It is said that some people come not only from Yokohama but also from Tokyo. It is said that there are many people who come together in a word of mouth. Women also participate with bamboo cutting saws, and there are members in their 30s and 40s.
Nagata says, "I may think I have to do something, but I don't really need to think about that. A person who only makes a booklet or a person who only picks up branches may be fine. "I hope each one finds what you're interested in and what you want to do."
Mr. Nagata himself says he wants to clean the park. When I look back on my work, I find it rewarding to be beautiful. Especially for bamboo grove. He smiled and said with a smile that when he thinned and walked with an umbrella, the other side of the bamboo grove could be seen through it, but it was beautiful.