‘Mourning procession’ unfolds for trees facing the chop

Performance activist group Red Rebels attended the march at Parkland Walk, reports Miriam Balanescu

Credit: Sabrina Merolla, sabrinamerolla.co.uk

Protestors took to North London’s Parkland Walk on Sunday, 5th February to preemptively express their “grief” for trees which will be felled later this month.

The recently formed Haringey Tree Protectors and Extinction Rebellion sub-group Red Rebels (who carry out protests in distinctive red costumes) were among those joining the march.

Twenty trees face the chop by Haringey Council next week at Stanhope Bridge, Mount Pleasant Villas bridge, Northwood Road bridge and St James’ Viaduct in order to clear the way for engineering surveys and to enable access.

Among the trees set to be cut down is a 150-year-old mature tree dubbed the ‘Hairy Oak’, which protestors claim has “more than 100 years left” of life.

The reduction in vegetation is being carried out by the council for surveyance, investigation and repairs. Haringey Tree Protectors have been in dispute with the council since work began on the Parkland Walk in February 2021 – resulting in the formation of the group – when they claim “teams of unsupervised tree surgeons from Turney Landscapes were let loose on the nature reserve”. 150 and more trees were felled.

After similar work was prevented from being carried out by protestors in March 2021, the work is set to resume this month with the council claiming they wish to have vegetation reduction complete before the bird nesting season in March.

One of the major reasons behind the reduction in vegetation is increasing access and improving health and safety at the Parkland Walk. A former ecological management plan enforced a zone of five to ten metres between bridges and trees and vegetation. Following complaints from residents, however, this has been amended to two metres, in line with Islington Council regulations.

However, the work has been described by Haringey Tree Protectors as “environment vandalism”. “There were alternatives which they chose to ignore,” said Jane, a spokesperson for the group. “It’s become the practice of developers to clear sites. They’re [seen as] an unnecessary hindrance. There’s no climate value put on them at all as providing clean air, habitats for insects and shade from increasingly hot summers.”

Cllr Mike Hakata, deputy Leader and cabinet member for climate Action, environment and transport said: “We appreciate and understand the strength of feeling that removing trees invokes among residents in our borough. In most cases, trees are only removed when they are dead, diseased or dying. Occasionally, trees must be felled because they pose a significant risk to safety or structures. The bridge repair works at Parkland Walk are vital to allow residents to use them safely and to access this beautiful part of our borough.

“Where possible the trees taken down will be retained on site to create additional habitats and increase the biodiversity of the area. Our expanded tree planting programme means that we are more than replacing the lost trees elsewhere in the borough, with a focus on areas with low canopy. We’ve investigated the option for the Stanhope Bridge put forward by Haringey Tree Protectors, but it is not viable for that location. It would mean building a larger bridge and removing more trees and vegetation making the site less green than the current plans. In fact, our approach with embankments made of soil rather than brick will deliver a 13% uplift in biodiversity net gain.”

Another concern for Haringey Tree Protectors is the planned development of Stanhope Bridge, with the council overlooking a petition with 6,000 and more signatures calling for what has been dubbed a ‘green bridge’.

Jane added: “[The council’s] whole policy is focused on increasing canopy cover but it does not compensate for the loss of mature trees.”

Catherine West, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, commented: “It is very important that green spaces such as the Parkland Walk are made accessible to be enjoyed by everyone in the community, however it is also crucial to protect the natural environment as much as possible, particularly in urban areas.

“I have highlighted concerns raised by local residents during my meetings with the Council Leader and Chief Executive and I know that the Cabinet Member for climate change, Cllr Mike Hakata, has engaged with local groups and residents on the plans for the bridge to try and find a solution which works for everyone.”

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