I was definitely not the only one who was quite surprised when I cycled from Mariehem down to university on Thursday. I was used to enjoy the nice wood right and left of our beloved cycle path. And now I could see a scene of destruction. The trees were cut; trunks and scrubs were seaming the way. What happened?

In yesterday’s Västerbottens Kuriren I found the answer. And because it’s weekend and I have time to improve my Swedish, I translated the article just for you! Anyway, it’s is a good example for the insignificance of the local newspapers here. Their style is matchless! Thank you for this masterpiece of journalism, Anders Broden!

Deforestation for small apartments
Umeå

The first stage has started. The forest is stubbed. Bostaden will build 276 small apartments at Strömbergs väg close to university, what makes them interesting for students.

The construction itself starts in April and after about one year it’s time to move in.
- We started logging on Tuesday and have almost finished. The scrub will be cleared, and on Friday we pack up and go ahead, explains Leif Strinnholm.
He comes from Näsland in Örträsk and drives the forestry machine - normally in the loneliness of the woods.
- It’s indeed really nice to see people and traffic sometimes, says Leif Strinnholm and laughs.
The last trunks are lifted with both speed and precision.
- That must go quite easy, he says.
Bostaden’s management will decide next year if they go on building stage 2 in that area.
- If this happens, we will probably come back, laughs Leif Strinnholm.