Trees outside Kavanagh’s supermarket in Haverstock Hill

• CAMDEN’S review of the cycle routes and the environment of Belsize Park, Haverstock Hill, is a subject close to my heart.

I have been hugely involved in improving our local environment starting with the Royal Free Hospital gardens on Pond Street and planting hollyhocks around our local trees.

Why, you may ask. I have seen the positive effect that creating the gardens has on all that pass them, whether they are patients at the hospital, staff members or the local folk, it makes people feel positive and encourages people to stop in their busy and stressful lives to chat with others. That is something we all need for our good mental health.

Sadly Camden Council did not contribute any funding towards plants for the gardens which are on their land and not the Royal Free’s; so it was mainly created by voluntary donations.

I have tried for many years to get Camden to make the area on Haverstock Hill a lovely place for all to gather and enjoy a garden around the trees outside Kavanagh’s supermarket (see above).

They say that you can’t put soil around the tree and make a raised bed as it will affect the roots; but they cover the soil with a rubber kind of surface and the roots simply push their way through it. Everything planted there is ruined by people walking on it or their dogs pooing so it’s totally disheartening.

I have seen other areas of Camden where raised beds and benches have been allowed and have spoken at length to our councillor, Tom Simon, who has agreed to bring this up again with the council’s environment team.

The raised bed and benches would make this area lovely for traders and residents so please support this initiative and write to Tom who will push the case for us.

LINDA GROVE, NW3