Cartoon: John Sadler

• CAMDEN Council is to be congratulated on the planting of new trees around the Inverness Street amenity area in Camden Town, but it is to be hoped that trees planted on pavements can stop now that planting has reached the Gloucester Crescent and Oval Road area.

In 1840 Lord Southampton developed this area speculatively, providing roads and services, but not including tree-lined pavements! Trees to define property bound­ar­ies were planted not on pavements but in residents’ gardens.

Over the years most boundary trees grew too large and had to be cut down, but planting in front and rear gardens by residents remains a common practice.

This has led to many native and exotic trees and shrubs being planted providing excellent habitats for wildlife and birds, at the same time adding greening to the neighbourhood, at no cost to the civic purse.

Encouraging residents to continue planting trees and shrubs in their own gardens, where possible, makes sense. It also helps curb the current proliferation of obstructions, including trees, which pedestrians and wheelchair users have to navigate along many pavements.

MICHAEL DOWD, NW1