Council set to plant Priory Park hedge ‘replacement’

A vigil was held for the hedge by the local community last month

Haringey Council promised to replant a 40 metre hedge following a disagreement over its removal last month.

The Priory Park hedge dividing the bowling green from the west tennis courts was removed to make way for floodlights to be installed, as part of a £446,782 tennis court refurbishment.

However, a disagreement arose between the council and the local friends group after the council claimed that it had gained their support for the removal of the hedge.

A sign was put up stating that there had been full engagement with the Friends of Priory Park (FoPP).

A vigil for the leylandii hedge was held by Extinction Rebellion Muswell Hill last month.

Alice Tringham, chair of the FoPP, said: “The removal of the hedge was not required to meet a request of the friends’ group […]

“Free un-gated access to the junior courts was part of Haringey’s commonplace and this was a shared vision of FoPP but we never insisted to the point of removing the entire hedge.”

The group added that they had agreed to the removal of 5m of inner tree line to allow access into the courts.

Alice said: “The only comment we made regarding the leylandii trees was that if they needed to be removed Haringey should consult with the local community before acting.

“We were then excluded from the engagement and decision making process.”

A ‘replacement’ hedge is now set to be planted, with a native species selected and FoPP to be in charge of maintenance.

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “This is important work being undertaken by the council to improve accessibility […]. It complements the major refurbishment of the tennis courts at the park, which will mean this valuable asset can be enjoyed by the local community for years to come.

“The new native hedge that we will be planting with the friends will increase biodiversity in the park.

“The plans for the tennis courts have been discussed at length with the friends, who attended several site visits with councillors and officers at which the works were thoroughly explained.”

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