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Hundreds of trees cut down in 'environmental crime'
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| Hundreds of trees have been cut down at Glebelands nature reserve |
Hundreds of trees in a Finchley nature reserve were cut down last summer in what has been branded an "environmental crime".
Around 500 trees on the Glebeland Nature Reserve, in Finchley, were cut down and shredded into chippings by tree surgeons, according to volunteer conservationst Dr Oliver Natelson, who spends his weekends maintaining the reserve.
Dr Natelson discovered the damage in October last year. He immediately began a survey and has submitted a report to the council based on its findings.
"Everybody who helped me with the survey is shocked at the devastation," he said. "It's generations of trees that are 50, 60 years old and it's absolutely catastrophic."
"There were also some smaller trees that were cut to about chest height and had all of their branches removed. They're just stumps now.The large canopy trees were cut down to the ground.
"I've surveyed the site completely and there was a massive area stripped of vegetation. What was in seed is now coming up but there are very, very few trees."
The site is one of only five sites designated as local nature reserves by the council.
It is home to species including the Slow Worm, which looks like a snake but is in fact a legless lizard, and the Great Crested Newt, both of which are dwindling in number.
The trees stood along the border of the North Circular, where the reserve begins, and Dr Natelson says they formed a natural barrier to noise, pollution and rubbish that now drifts in off the busy A-road and threaten to damage the ecosystem.
"There are huge numbers of plastic bags blowing in to the area now," he said. "Some marked 'biohazard' that could have needles or blood or anything in them."
A council spokesman said an unspecified number of trees had been removed because they overhung the North Circular and posed a danger to traffic.
He added: "Oaks and other trees that were found to be stable were left untouched and the trees that were identified as being potential risks were either felled or pollarded. No work was carried out in the woodland itself, just on the roadside trees."
But Darren Johnson, the leader of the Green party in the Greater London Assembly, visited the site with other members of his party last Friday and described it as an environmental crime.
"In the heart of a really important nature reserve in ancient woodland like this no other way to described it," he said.
"It's really sad to see all these beautiful trees that have been chopped down. We really need that thick line of tree cover to protect the wildlife from noise and pollution."
9:26am Wednesday 23rd April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Miranda Dunn, Finchley on 10:38am Wed 23 Apr 08
I was amazed to listen to Barnet Tree Officer Andy Tipping on Radio 4 yesterday speaking so effectively on the importance of protecting trees from developers. Mr Tipping is Chairman of the London Tree Officer's Association. In The Times on page 22 of the 22nd April Edition he explains: "a new system devised by local authority tree officers it takes into account size, health, historical significance and the number of people living nearby to enjoy it." The tree in Berkeley Square was valued at £750,000 Strange then that Barnet Council gave one explanation to Dr Natelson that the trees had been cut down because Police did not like the fact that youths from the Strawberry Vale Estate opposite the Woods allegedly cross the North Circular to hide in the woods when chased by the Police. This is an extraordinary reason for cutting down trees. It would be nice to know how much the Council would value these 500 trees on their formula explained so well in The Times by Andy Tipping and on Radio 4. After all the trees are on a historic site frequented by Dick Turpin himself and there are a high density of people living in the neighbouring area suffering from acute pollution from the North Circular and therefore reliant on the trees to improve their poor air quality. The Air Monitoring Station on the Estate is usually conveniently out of action. Perhaps Mike Freer Barnet's Conservative Leader should ask Andy Tipping to make the calculation for the value of the trees destroyed by the Council? One thing is certain now the environmental vandalism has taken place replacing what has been lost including ancient trees will not be solved by money alone. However money would help build a fence to help shield the Nature Reserve from some of the pollution the loss of the natural tree barrier and destruction of the hawthorn and blackthorn hedge has caused.
The residents of the Stonegrove Estate and Graham Park should also ask Mr Tipping to calculate the value of the trees with TPOs which have been sacrificed to the Regeneration Schemes on these estates with such lack of respect for their contribution to the wellbeing of the area.
I was amazed to listen to Barnet Tree Officer Andy Tipping on Radio 4 yesterday speaking so effectively on the importance of protecting trees from developers. Mr Tipping is Chairman of the London Tree Officer's Association. In The Times on page 22 of the 22nd April Edition he explains: "a new system devised by local authority tree officers it takes into account size, health, historical significance and the number of people living nearby to enjoy it." The tree in Berkeley Square was valued at £750,000 Strange then that Barnet Council gave one explanation to Dr Natelson that the trees had been cut down because Police did not like the fact that youths from the Strawberry Vale Estate opposite the Woods allegedly cross the North Circular to hide in the woods when chased by the Police. This is an extraordinary reason for cutting down trees. It would be nice to know how much the Council would value these 500 trees on their formula explained so well in The Times by Andy Tipping and on Radio 4. After all the trees are on a historic site frequented by Dick Turpin himself and there are a high density of people living in the neighbouring area suffering from acute pollution from the North Circular and therefore reliant on the trees to improve their poor air quality. The Air Monitoring Station on the Estate is usually conveniently out of action. Perhaps Mike Freer Barnet's Conservative Leader should ask Andy Tipping to make the calculation for the value of the trees destroyed by the Council? One thing is certain now the environmental vandalism has taken place replacing what has been lost including ancient trees will not be solved by money alone. However money would help build a fence to help shield the Nature Reserve from some of the pollution the loss of the natural tree barrier and destruction of the hawthorn and blackthorn hedge has caused.
The residents of the Stonegrove Estate and Graham Park should also ask Mr Tipping to calculate the value of the trees with TPOs which have been sacrificed to the Regeneration Schemes on these estates with such lack of respect for their contribution to the wellbeing of the area.
Posted by: Rachel, Stonegrove Estate on 5:36pm Wed 23 Apr 08
I always thought lizard was spelt with one Z not two, no wonder it is endangered!
I always thought lizard was spelt with one Z not two, no wonder it is endangered!
Posted by: Xenia, Enfield on 6:30pm Wed 23 Apr 08
From what I can see the Council cut the trees down on safety grounds. Would everyone from the loony Green Party prefer dangerous trees or a few road deaths/crushed walkers when they fall over? Public protection has to be paramount full stop.
From what I can see the Council cut the trees down on safety grounds. Would everyone from the loony Green Party prefer dangerous trees or a few road deaths/crushed walkers when they fall over? Public protection has to be paramount full stop.
Posted by: Alan, North Finchley on 10:42pm Wed 23 Apr 08
Barnet Council does not care about the environment. Look at what they have done in Partingdale Lane - a beautiful haven of wildlife destroyed for the motorist. Good luck to the Green Party - at least they care for the environment and want to ensure my children see trees and wildlife in London when they are adults.
Barnet Council does not care about the environment. Look at what they have done in Partingdale Lane - a beautiful haven of wildlife destroyed for the motorist. Good luck to the Green Party - at least they care for the environment and want to ensure my children see trees and wildlife in London when they are adults.
Posted by: Rog T, Mill Hill on 11:19pm Wed 23 Apr 08
I suggest everyone check the letter from Matthew Offord, Deputy Council Leader and man in charge of the Environment in the letters section about this story. A man who is surprised when skips left out for Passover rubbish are filled up with "general waste".
I just suggest that anyone who cares about the environment reflect carefully on this story before they vote for the Conservative candidate Boris Johnson. This is what the Tories do when they get into power. Their response "well we should have sorted out a plan by 2009".
Actions speak louder than glossy campaign leaflets.
I suggest everyone check the letter from Matthew Offord, Deputy Council Leader and man in charge of the Environment in the letters section about this story. A man who is surprised when skips left out for Passover rubbish are filled up with "general waste".
I just suggest that anyone who cares about the environment reflect carefully on this story before they vote for the Conservative candidate Boris Johnson. This is what the Tories do when they get into power. Their response "well we should have sorted out a plan by 2009".
Actions speak louder than glossy campaign leaflets.
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