• WHOEVER starts their walk on Hampstead Heath at the Parliament Hill Bridge at Constantine / Savernake Road will have seen the posters put up urging passers by to stop the “Hampstead chainsaw massacre”.

Camden put up notices explaining the trees by the bridge would be cut down and cut down one straight away. Earlier this month we heard that all the rest would be felled.

As someone who has been fighting over the past year for Gospel Oak voices to be heard, I wanted to do what I could to try to find a better solution. I asked Cllr Claire Louise Leyland if she would support us and try to delay the felling, so we could look at options and involve the community.

We managed to get the council to agree to engage with the community, explain the safety issues, and look at any ideas that residents bring to resolve this problem. It may still mean that the trees get cut down but at least everyone will understand what the problem is and know all alternatives have been considered.

I am pleased the council realised that we work best together and often find better solution, when we come together as a neighbourhood.

“To Stake or Not to Stake a Leaning Tree” is not just a phrase. We can straighten out a tree that has fallen in a storm and try to stake a tree if it is leaning to the wrong side. What we don’t do, is cut down our beautiful street trees unless we are absolutely sure there is no other option.

MARX DE MORAIS
Yorkshire Grey Place, NW3