SHE first came to prominence in the 1950s when she ran out of her Hampstead home clad only in her dressing gown to save trees from a council axe in the gardens of Burgh House – and now Peggy Jay is at it again.
The life president of the Heath and Hampstead Society, 92, joined demonstrators yesterday (Wednesday) in bringing traffic to a standstill to tell workmen not to cut down a 100-foot horse chestnut tree on the corner of Well Road and Christchurch Hill, Hampstead.
Joined by school children from near-by New End and Christchurch primary schools, Mrs Jay asked council officials to think again on plans to fell the tree.
They say it has permanent fungal decay but a determined campaign by nearby residents, including a 500-signature petition, has brought a temporary reprieve.
Mrs Jay, who lives in Gayton Crescent but previously lived on Well Road for 50 years, said: “I’ve been concerned about this tree for years. It was such a landmark for us. I am sure that it needs to be pruned but it is not a danger to anybody at the moment.”
A Town Hall official confirmed that bosses had decided to withdraw the threat of chainsaws – for now.
He added: “We are reluctant to fell any trees, particularly mature ones, and only do so when there is no alternative, as we have been advised with this sadly decaying tree.
“It was decided to fell the tree in the interests of public safety as a frequently used footpath and parking space were beneath it.”