Residents and campaigners formed a blockade to protect seven trees threatened with removal in Highbury Corner on Monday by Islington Council.
More than 40 residents, including children from nearby schools, gathered around the trees, located on the Dixon Clark Estate, to prevent council workers from cutting them down. Some climbed the trees, while others tied ribbons around them.
The trees were scheduled to be removed by Islington Council to make way for new housing on the estate, permission for which was granted back in 2018. Campaigners said that by removing the trees, the council were failing to live up to its climate declaration.
Extinction Rebellion Campaigners lend support
Marc, a 19-year old campaigner for Extinction Rebellion, said: “The climate emergency Islington have declared gives them no excuse to cut these trees down.” He said that he, and others, would continue to hold the space non-violently.
Fellow campaigner Adriana Ximena, 18, said that they were aware of housing pressures in London. However, she said: “We understand the population is growing, but a lot of people will just buy them for AirBnB or holiday homes.”
Her concerns were not without foundation. While 27 of the homes on the estate will be used for social housing, the block of 14 replacing the trees will be available to buy as private homes.
Conor McHugh, who has organised a petition against the tree’s removal, said: “We shouldn’t give away our public green space for private housing. Otherwise, where will we end up?”
Campaigners were also concerned about the potential impact on Canonbury Primary School, located next to the Dixon Clark Estate. Children at the school could be heard chanting “save our trees” as council workers began removing other trees on the site.
A parent of children at the school, Alex Hofford, 49, said: “These trees are providing clean air in Highbury, and this decision is a disaster for the kids, who will have to breathe in more smoggy air.”
Why the trees are being removed?
The trees are being removed on the council’s behalf by tree surgeons Gristwood and Toms. They said that they were “just here to do a job,” while one member of the team attempted to prevent an interview by turning on a wood chipper.
Islington Council told Islington Now that the 18 trees being removed will be replaced with 12 new trees, though this will lead to a fall in canopy cover. However, they intended to plant trees in other locations to make up the shortfall.
Diarmaid Ward, the council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “The Dixon Clark Court development will deliver 27 desperately needed new council homes for local people.”
“It has a number of landscape improvements to help reduce toxic air pollution, including a… hedge running along the western edge of the site, which will provide a barrier and screening from air pollution arising from road traffic. The trees which are to be retained at the site combined with additional planting and ventilation measures within the buildings will all help to vastly improve the air quality in the area.”
