Haringey Council's decision to fell tree disputed by expert

An 80-year-old willow tree in Stationers Park, between Crouch End and Stroud Green, was chopped down as an "emergency" on September 16.

Haringey Council's deputy leader Cllr Mike Hakata claims the willow tree, which sits adjacent to tennis courts, was showing "serious defects" including "visible decay at ground level and large vertical cracks on the lower trunk".

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An extract from Haringey tree officer Alex Fraser's report states:  "This tree has significant decay in its trunk at ground level, and between the three large stems, which are splitting apart. The tree needs to be felled ASAP."

However this is disputed by Professor Jeff Duckett, emeritus professor of botany at Queen Mary University of London.

The tree and botany expert, who lives in Highgate, wrote a report after campaign group Haringey Tree Protectors got in touch with him.

He said: "I am at a complete loss to understand why one of the best trees in the park has been felled on the flimsiest of grounds."

In his report he said "there is no significant decay visible in the cut ends of the three trunks". 

"Picus tomography tests would have clearly confirmed the soundness of the trunks and been much cheaper than the felling costs," Prof Duckett's report adds.

Professor Jeff Duckett, tree and botany expert and research professor at the National History Museum said a felled willow was healthy with no signs of decay (Image: Professor Jeff Duckett)

He said if the trunks had split apart there would be "significant decay" on the inner sides of the three trunks and the absence of any fungal fruiting bodies was further evidence, he believed, for the health of the tree.

He added: "Haringey should be looking most critically at its sources of such flawed information."

Chris Arnold, chair of the Friends of Stationers Park, believes there has been "a lack of transparency and honesty", whilst Giovanna Iozzi, co-founder of Haringey Tree Protectors, claimed: "The willow was a seriously good tree, the best in the park, stunning. It's ecocide to fell a tree for no good reason." 

The council plans to refurbish the tennis courts in the park.

Giovanna added: "A cynical person might think the council wants access and the tree is in the way."

But Cllr Hakata, cabinet member for climate action, environment and transport, said there was "no connection between the removal of the willow tree and the tennis court refurbishment".

He added: "Unfortunately, the willow tree was showing serious defects and urgent work was needed to prevent it collapsing.

“We simply cannot put the public at risk - particularly when a tree is in a heavily used park and near a primary school - so had no option other than to act."

He said the council's qualified arboricultural officers examined the tree and "observed visible decay at ground level and large vertical cracks on the lower trunk, meaning it is unstable and hazardous". 

“They had to take the difficult but necessary decision for it to be felled," Cllr Hakata said.

"The hazardous nature of the tree was spotted at a site visit with the Chair of the Friends of Stationers Park, so the Friends group is aware that urgent action was necessary to make the area safe."