Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Street trees please!
Today will be the 37th time at the thermometer has hit or exceeded 30C in the UK. The shade of street trees has been a welcome respite when out and about. I know our ward councillors read HoL so can I ask for a bold programme of native, drought resistant tree planting to be undertaken this autumn and next spring. At 67 years old it’s unlikely that I’ll personally benefit from a shady canopy on my road but the next generation will thank you.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Eric Easter
-
Yes, please!
-
Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
-
YES; many more street trees are needed.
If our Borough Council had been more focused on the climate crisis announced in 2019, and more on the longer term, then we wouldn't be planting the trees needed into pedestrian pavements:
They would be planted in build-outs from the kerb.
Where there would be a double or triple-win.
The municipal highways team is likely to be uncomfortable with this on the grounds of reducing their service to (the minority of) car owners. And yet on a few occasions—such as their tinkering efforts along Wightman Road—they've shown it can be done.
Too much tar in some places ~ did they get a discounted bulk deal?
Build-outs ~ for tree pits; since I took these photos trees have been planted.
-
-
Can we also not do cut backs in the parks on trees based on funding cycles, but rather on nesting and leafing cycles? We currently get many tress pollarded during nesting season and just before our new drought season.
-
-
Yes! More trees!
Also, if you have a street tree nearby please consider giving it some water.
I am not sure what the council does for trees in this kind of weather but the one outside my house is looking very sad...
I've been watering it but the soil is so dry poor thing.
-
Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson
-
Haringey have responsibility for 38,000 trees in the borough. 18,000 of those are street trees. With the best will in the world they aren’t going to be able to have a watering schedule so it’s down to us.
https://haringey.gov.uk/environment/trees/tree-canopy-cover
-
Permalink Reply by Sarah
-
I have seen marks on the pavement around Tottenham where I live that suggest sites have been identified for new trees.
I'm still sad about the one I sponsored outside my house. I thought planting a tree there would discourage people from parking on the pavement. I was wrong. They parked on the pavement AND the tree. I wish I'd just asked for a bollard hire and spent my £200 on a larger tree for my garden.
I had to plant much smaller, cheaper trees in my garden and while they are under 3 years old they are much smaller than 1.8m, so I'm not allowed to water them with a hose. My amelanchier is looking particularly sad.
-
-
HIGHWAYS: the power and influence
Planting trees in pavements is short-sighted. It limits the ground area for rain collection. In the past, where Highways' contractors tarmac right up to the trunk base, this has sometimes meant zero ground area. Those choked trees depend on roots going down to the water table. And radiating out.
Highways-approved pavement-planting also reduces width for pedestrians and puts roots closer to buildings, increasing the risk of subsidence, which can cause aggravation for the council.
One of the advantages of tree-pits in build-outs from the kerb, is there is a larger catchment area for (any) rain.
The Highways department see their clients as car-owners and part of their role as increasing parking capacity. Previous Labour Highways Cabinet Members did little more than act as rubber-stampers and spokespersons for these council employees.
In my view, this über-conservative Department needs root and branch reform.
.
-
-
I agree that build outs are the way to go but for places where that is unsuitable there are trees that can be safely planted 3 meters away from a building - dogwoods, sorbus, cornus, crab apples and acers for instance. But for all trees maintenance and pruning will normally keep them in check. Some build out pits won’t be possible because of rainwater drainage running alongside the footpath and under the gutter but that shouldn’t rule out using pavement planting in those instances.
-
-
agree more trees would be wonderful - but they do need watering - the two liriodendruns (spelling?! ) look v sad outside the west green gate into Downhills Park.
Please can we start a campaign for all shops to have awnings that are opened in hot weather?
-
-
When you see photos of Green Lanes from the early 20th century that is exactly what most shops had. They not only give us a bit of shade but make the shop premises cooler for staff.
-
-
..and they can look very attractive and enhance the high street.
© 2026 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
