Neighbours Helena Farstad and Lynne Friedl with Ebba, 5, Hennie, 8, Cameron and Barney the dog

• ISLINGTON Greener Together – the council scheme to re-imagine public spaces – is great news, (Swap concrete for flowers and herbs, March 4).

As residents in the first street in the borough to repurpose a parking space as a growing place, we’re delighted streets and highways are a priority for greening.

Over nearly three years, we’ve seen firsthand the benefits of our mini green oasis, for wildlife and for well­being.

A space of calm, beauty and learning, for children on their way to school, for neighbours to stop and chat, for passersby to enjoy. An enduring symbol of what it means to be a people friendly street.

Here’s what happened. We created a green space with planters on our street, supported by the majority of residents, but Islington Council is trying to pressure us to remove and relocate it.

We’re puzzled the council hasn’t a single positive word to say about a pioneering project, looked after entirely by local residents and children.

We’re puzzled by the proposed Mayton Street planter ‘consultation’, (Residents see red over green scheme, March 4).

As the council well knows, we spoke to neighbours in five or more houses on either side of the planters, 50 Mayton Street residents signed a petition in support, 17 Mayton Street households are actively involved in the planters (eg donating plants/seeds, watering, gatherings, involving children, plant swaps etc) and many more simply enjoy seeing a green space through the seasons.

Of course not everyone welcomes the planters, but it’s clear that most people who live here do.

We’d like to know why we’re being singled out for such a heavy-handed approach, why the council is talking about “relocation” and, above all, why the council can’t celebrate the Mayton Street planters and everything they stand for.

LYNNE FRIEDLI,
HELENA FARSTAD
Mayton Street, N7

Plus 29 Mayton Street and Hood Court residents: ROSSALYN WARREN; JOHN BURN-MURDOCH; ANGELA REITH; JACK HERBERT; KATIE ROSE COMERY; MILO BATES; JOSH BRITTON; OLIVER  KERR; CAROLE CREHAN; MARGARET WALKER; JACK LEVERS; FERGUS McWILLIAMS; WILLIAM THORPE; CHANTAL TUTU AND FAMILY; HELEN IACOVOU; JOE PARKINSON; ALEXEI PISCARI; TEYMOUR GRAY; BRYN GREY; THEO HAKERIUS; ROBBIE KELLY; NORA ESCHER; HANNAH KATE KELLY; MIRANDA COPPS; CHRIS HIGNETT; JESSICA BOYDE; LEO CADOGAN AND HOUSEHOLD; CAMERON McKEOWN; FELIPE ESPINOSA-CAMACHO