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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

damaged trees in finsbury park

I have been aware of the mindless dog damage to trees (I assume this is from dogs) on the main tree lined road from manor house gate to Finsbury park but only this week (since Wireless fences have gone up and the route around the park is limited) have I noticed that there is similar damage to nearly every tree along the Seven Sister's Road fence.

Some of these trees will die and the problem is clearly increasing.

I wonder what's the solution is?

Wrought iron baskets around the tree bases as they do in town to protect the trees?

I wonder if anyone has a foolproof solution or knows how to go about sorting this out. We have a great park and it would be such a shame to lose any more of the trees than we have already.

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Permalink Reply by Jon C on July 4, 2014 at 10:19

I would hazard a guess that it's caused by squirrels, not humans:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestresearch.nsf/ByUnique/INFD...

Permalink Reply by cheryl on July 4, 2014 at 18:38

I'm sure that the damage is people or dogs because they are right next to trees with cages on them already (which could easily be accessed by squirrels) and the caged trees aren't damaged. 

It's really difficult to be that sure on the trees that I haven't actually seen being damaged.

Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on July 5, 2014 at 15:19

I find it hard to believe that dogs damage trees.  Animals like goats or deer like to strip the bark from young trees. Has anyone spotted a deer in Finsbury Park?

Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on July 5, 2014 at 16:26

Thanks.  Depressingly intresting.

Permalink Reply by Helen on July 7, 2014 at 19:52

and this from 2007

Wild dogs spark fury
 Tottenham Journal [front page], 25 January 2007

 AGGRESSIVE dogs are being allowed to run wild and wreck parks

 Concerns have been raised that some Tottenham parks are being used as "dog gyms" where swings and trees are being used as apparatus to strengthen the dog's jaws and muscles.

.......
"Recently there has been a sharp rise in ownership of pit bull or pit bull type dogs and too often their owners see the parks as dog gyms where they can strengthen their dog's jaws by allowing them to hang from tree branches by their teeth or to chew away at children's play equipment."

Branches are also being pulled off mature trees and then used to swing dogs around to strengthen their jaws.

In Paignton Park it has been reported that newly-planted trees have been wrecked by the dogs, who are being trained to jump up and bite them.

Councillor Brian Haley, Haringey Council's executive member for the environment, said: "Dogs damaging swings has been a London-wide problem for some time....... We will also be liaising with other boroughs to discuss how we might all respond to this matter."

Permalink Reply by Liz on July 7, 2014 at 15:58

There are deer (muntjac, roe and fallow deer) in Finsbury Park and the nearby Parkland Walk. See this article from 2012 and the Parkland Walk description from LbHaringey website.

Permalink Reply by cheryl on July 7, 2014 at 17:55
I'm familiar with deer damage as I manage a small piece of woodland part time. I don't believe the damage I've seen looks like deer and Munjtac damage.

I'd much prefer it if that were the case, but I don't think it is.

I have seen people whipping their weapon dogs into a frenzy on the main carriage way from manor house to FP and it manifests itself in them savaging the trees and tearing off the bar.

I've also seen large branches snapped off and used in much the same way, unfortunately.
Permalink Reply by Liz on July 7, 2014 at 18:21

Not suggesting you're not right about the dogs which also cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to the children's playgrounds too, just answering Dick's question about whether there are deer in Finsbury Park.

Permalink Reply by Kris G on July 5, 2014 at 15:49
Hi Cheryl,

Are you able to post pictures of the damage or describe what damage is being done?

Cheers,

Kris
Permalink Reply by HoL Site Admin on July 5, 2014 at 16:52

Cheryl sent some in earlier. Attached are some downsampled copies as a pdf. 

Attachments:
Permalink Reply by cheryl on July 7, 2014 at 22:09

thanks Hugh

Once the Festival has been cleared, I will get some more from other areas as those are only from along the fence at Seven Sisters Road.

There are unfortunately a fair number more like this and there is an odd one that is dying as a direct result.

Permalink Reply by Chris Setz on July 8, 2014 at 9:15

I sent Hugh's PDF of your photos to the manager of the Council Tree dept, Alex Fraser (who is also the most experienced tree officer in Haringey by far).

We could get some co-ordinated action - guess it's cheaper from them to deal with it all than to approach it piecemeal. If you would kindly post your photos here, I'll send him the link. Council Officers are not really able to post on a forum (I know it's crazy, their bosses have invented a phony risk and have a cannot-do attitude) so he won't be able to respond here, but we can.

We then get an audit trail of people raising an issue and record what action resulted, so that others in future can be better informed as to what works.

I can drop out of the loop if it's easier - don't want to poke my nose in just for the sake of it.

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