‘It’s got 50 more years’: under-threat tree healthy, says expert
Residents in Highbury pay for independent report in bid to resist Town Hall’s axe
Friday, 7th May 2021 — By Helen Chapman
Campaigning residents stand by the mulberry tree
AN under-threat mulberry tree is healthy and could live for 50 years or more if properly managed, an expert has claimed.
Residents at the Park View estate in Highbury – where the beloved tree has been earmarked for the chop – put their hands in their own pockets to pay for an independent report and then delivered it to council officers this week.
Islington stepped back from axing the tree in February due to the opposition but have now renewed their plans to fell it.
The council has proposals for 38 new homes on the estate and say removing the tree is vital for their plans.
The report by arboriculturalist Russell Miller recommends the Town Hall retains the tree as a community asset. It follows a long-running dispute between the council and residents over plans for the estate – the residents previously won over the council campaigning for the block of flats in plans to be social housing.
An inspection carried out by the council found fungus on the tree and ruled it was in terminal decline.
But Mr Miller said: “This is a relatively young tree which could live another 50 years or more.
“The presence of early-stage heartwood decay and small Ganoderma fruiting bodies should not be regarded as a sign of decline and certainly not terminal decline.”
Resident Zoe Alzamora said: “It shows the council report is completely and utterly wrong and not done in the right detail. It is a healthy tree.
“The council are still trying to do the same thing and cut down the tree with the rationale that is a diseased tree. It is what they want to do despite the fact that it is a healthy tree.”
Islington’s housing chief, Councillor Diarmaid Ward, said: “The council is committed to delivering decent, secure, affordable homes for all, and the project on Park View estate will create 38 much-needed council homes for local people.”
He added: “We’re determined to ensure that new developments are as environmentally sustainable as possible, and removing trees is always a last resort.
“That is why, when the mulberry tree’s short remaining life and extremely low chances of survival became apparent, the council moved quickly to propose planting a mature mulberry tree in a more suitable location as a replacement.
“We are pleased that residents on the estate supported this proposal when it was suggested in October 2019, and that the project will result in a net gain of six trees.”
