Haringey's latest planning applications list includes an easy to miss application which is likely to see the imminent felling of 32 trees on the grounds of St Ann's Hospital.
The application identifies 32 trees which are classed as dangerous and their removal is recommended. However, as I understand it, the actual application is for the removal of only ten trees at this point. Closer scrutiny may suggest another interpretation.
Whilst it may well be that these are simply trees that are past their useful life, I understand that local campaigners are already making links with the proposed development of the site for housing and are suspicious about the timing of this application.
The St Ann's Conservation Area Advisory Committee have told us that they are planning an investigatory walk with their own tree experts in the near future to make their own assessment of the situation.
Full planning application on Haringey Council's website. You can comment online or by mail.
Tags for Forum Posts: st ann's hospital, st ann's redevelopment, st ann's trees
This looks like a slaughter. The list includes, true service trees (a rarity), mulberry trees, cherry trees and many others. It's strange that so many trees that have stood on this site for so long should suddenly be found to be infested, infected and rotten. One or two may have problems but 10-32 trees to suddenly need destruction is suspicious.
I am a trifle shocked by this. I raised the issue of tree preservation at the last Area Forum meeting and was assured that there would be the utmost done to safeguard the rare and special trees of St Ann's. No mention was made of this application at all, neither by the representatives of the Mental Health Trust or Haringey Council. Therefore I share Maggie's susupicions about this apparent need to fell so many trees. I know trees do need to be removed from time to time and no one is going to weep too much over sycamores but the mulberry trees are a shock as is the true service.
During our walk last year with a respected botanist, David Bevan, I had no sense that the site was full of rotten trees. He now needs to be called in to do an assessment since no one seems to know those grounds better than him. I have therefore opposed this application and requested a second opinion.
I'm trying to get in touch with the people who were organising the tree walks to find out their view.
Presumably all these trees are well over 50 years old..?
I remember the Mulberrys from the early 60s..
Yes, trees do get sick and they do die but in the light of the conversations we had last week at Area Forum about developing the land, I can't help but feel concerned about this axe-happy application. The example we were shown in Islington of a similar development didn't feature a lot of trees...
An estate I'm familiar with in Switzerland was given money by the local commune to keep going precisely because of the great age of its trees (300-50 years old).
Linka, please don't think that because I estimated the trees to be over 50, that I think they should go.. The opposite is actually the case..
No doubt any new delevelopment will be of the 'squeeze as many in as possible' kind, similar to aptly named 'Hale Village' and with architecture to match.
I have contacted Gemma from the Urban Harvest who organised the tree walks and she has been to look. She suggests that pruning and removal of branches could be enough for many trees identified without resorting to felling. She has advised me to contact the Tree Trust for Haringey as a next step. In the meantime, please comment on the application and ask for a second opinion via the link above.
I've just written a (hopefully) strong comment to object these plans on the council website (thanks for the link!). It's a disgraceful idea. Please everyone, spread the word!!!
Suddenly people are interested in what is happening at st annes Hospital but for all the wrong reasons
they have and continue to close many parts of the hospital with very little resources in replacement- are people now less important than the environment that so little or (even no) time or thought is given here about that, but yet people are up in arms about trees
i am very enviromentally aware and hate the thought of trees being felled but the cut backs and closures that have affected St annes hospital and the talk of transfer to chase farm with its already overstetched services.is chatostrophic and much more serious than what is happening to the trees
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