‘If trees are planted too close to buildings the roots can cause serious structural damage’

• I AM a Camden leaseholder and am alarmed by what I have just read in Camden’s Housing News, Winter 2020, in the article “Plant a seed of hope for the future with the Camden Forest”.

The article encourages tenants and leaseholders to plant 2025 trees in their private gardens by 2025 and the Camden Forest project is giving away free tree whips in January, even offering to cycle them round to your home.

However, this is actually in contravention of the lease (clause 3.10.3) which forbids leaseholders to plant trees in private gardens without prior written authority. And why encourage tenants and leaseholders to do something on this scale without proper advice?

If trees are planted too close to buildings the roots can cause serious structural damage. Not everyone knows this so please, Camden Forest project, can you correct this misinformation as a matter of urgency?

As a veteran of two years of hassle trying to avert damage to my flat from neighbouring trees, planted in the wrong location, I know how arduous these issues are to resolve. Please act quickly to avoid any more unnecessary problems of this nature.

PAT NEWBY
Croftdown Road, NW5