Campaigner joins fight to save trees (From Times Series)
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London Wildlife Trust (Barnet Group) join fight to save trees in Mill Hill
11:07am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News
By Emma Innes
Many trees have already been felled and more are marked for destruction
Wildlife campaigners have spoken out against the destruction of “the lungs of London” at a football club in Mill Hill.
At a Barnet Borough Council residents’ forum at Hendon Town Hall, in The Burroughs, last night Clive Cohen, vice chairman of the Barnet group of the London Wildlife, expressed his concerns about trees in Burtonhole Lane being cut down.
Mr Cohen is the latest of a string of people, including neighbours and councillors, to complain about the tree cull at the Old Camdenians Football Club site.
Mr Cohen said: “Our remit is to protect the wildlife of London and all trees are important.
“They represent the lungs of London, hold the ground together and provide places for birds to nest and feed.
“It only takes a few minutes to cut down one of these trees but it takes hundreds of years for them to grow back.”
Mr Cohen is concerned about the felling of trees at the site which is leased from Barnet Borough Council.
However, he is also concerned about the large amount of earth which has been placed around the base of many of the trees.
He believes that this will eventually kill the trees unless it is moved.
The council has confirmed that it had instructed the club to stop the work while an investigation is carried out.
At last nights’ meeting residents were also informed that a site visit had been carried out by council officers to decide a plan of action.
The Times Series is waiting to hear the results of this visit and has been unable to contact the Old Camdenians Football Club.
james smyth says...
11:53am Wed 17 Oct 12
You can see from the picture that the trees have grown into the incorrect shape because they are too crowded,
Less is more.
Mr Cohen should pay more attention to matters closer to home if he is so intrested in wildlife. On his doorstep is a wild nature meadow with a large natural pond that is so silted up and has fallen rotten trees in it,there is only a foot of water.
All around this "meadow reserve are dead or rotten trees that require either felling or lopping in order to grow as they should. If this was really a nature reserve then it should be managed to encourage and sustain wildlife,not just the grass cut once a year.
Everything needs to be managed,you cant just leave it.