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Hampstead
faces future without trees
THE leafy slopes of Hampstead could become nothing more than
a memory for a generation as many of the area’s mature
trees reach the end of their natural life and are replaced with
saplings.
The threat of the area’s famously leafy appearance changing
beyond recognition has worried members of the Heath and Hampstead
Society so much they have formed a group of tree lovers to monitor
the situation.
Chair of the Heath and Hampstead Society Tony Hillier told the
New Journal that many of Hampstead’s trees were well over
100 years old and would have to be replaced in the near future.
He said: “We have to face the fact that some of our lovely
avenues are going to change their look in the coming years.”
There are 10,000 trees in Camden Council many of which in the
north of the borough. Tree officers survey a third of them every
12 months to look for signs of aging and decay.
Mr Hillier added: “You simply can’t replace a 100-year-old
tree with another of the same height and stature.”
Society member Bruce Kohler, a former lawyer who is now working
as a garden designer and lives in New End, is heading the new
policy group.
He said: “We are trying to work closely with Camden Council
to ensure Hampstead remains its character as a leafy place.”
Mr Kohler believes there have been two problems with the Town
Hall’s tree policies: fears over claims against the council
by home owners who say their properties are suffering from subsidence;
and trees that may be suffering from minor fungal diseases are
cut down when the risk of them falling is minimal.
The group are meeting regularly with senior Town Hall tree officers
to work out they can ensure Hampstead retains its foliage.
A Town Hall spokesman said: “The council does not take
lightly any decision to cut down trees and only does so when
there’s no alternative.” |
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