Protesters lose battle to save 100-year-old ‘Hairy Oak’ tree

Performance activist group Red Rebels joined protesters to protect a mature tree from the chop in a bitter dispute with Haringey Council

Protesters defending the ‘Hairy Oak’ from being cut down by Haringey Council have lost their battle to save the tree.

The 100-year-old tree on the Parkland Walk faced the chop on Wednesday, 22nd February to clear the way for “surveyance, investigation and repairs”, as well as increasing accessibility, according to the council.

Up to 20 trees had already been felled at Stanhope Road bridge, Mount Pleasant Villas bridge, St James’ Viaduct and Northwood Road bridge since work commenced on Monday, 13th February. The council then applied for an injunction to remove protesters from the ‘Hairy Oak’.

The protest was part of a dispute which began in February 2021, when work began to remove trees and reduce vegetation on the Parkland Walk – resulting in the formation of a local campaigning group, Haringey Tree Protectors.

Jane, a spokesperson for the group, claimed: “Teams of unsupervised tree surgeons from Turney Landscapes were let loose on the nature reserve.”

Further work was prevented from being carried out by protesters in March 2021. The work resumed last month, with the council claiming they wished to have vegetation reduction complete before the bird nesting season in March.

The fierce protection of the ‘Hairy Oak’, which protesters claim had “more than 100 years left” of life, is indicative of a concern among residents that mature trees are not accounted for in the council’s plans to increase canopy cover in the borough, despite their increased environmental benefits.

Jane said: “[The council’s] whole policy is focused on increasing canopy cover but it does not compensate for the loss of mature trees. “What we are making a stand on now is that this is a nature reserve and that they have taken decisions contrary to this being a nature reserve.”

The work has been described by Haringey Tree Protectors as “environment vandalism”. “There were alternatives which they chose to ignore,” said Jane. “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.”

Along with Haringey Tree Protectors, the Red Rebels – a sub-group of Extinction Rebellion – had been onsite to help protect the ‘Hairy Oak’. A “mourning procession” in anticipation of the tree felling took place on Sunday, 5th February.

One of the reasons given for the reduction in vegetation is increasing access and improving health and safety on 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.

Another concern for Haringey Tree Protectors is the planned development of Stanhope Bridge, with the council ignoring a petition of more than 6,000 signatures calling for an environmentally- friendly ‘green bridge’.

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.”

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 to find a solution which works for everyone.”

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