Losing a landmark

The regeneration of the junction at Herne Hill, completed in 2010, included moving the park boundary at the main gate to Brockwell Park and creation of a new slip-road and a sizeable paved area outside the park, much of which once lay inside the park. Within this area new trees were planted but one mature tree was retained, whose size and position and branches garlanded with lights have made it a distinct local landmark. The tree, a Norway maple (Acer platanoides) was once within the park boundary, as the historic aerial image shows. But

The tree within the park (2003) it has been ailing for some time and has reached the end of its life. Lambeth inform us they will be taking it down, grinding out the stump and putting in a new tree in the next planting season

(2023-24). We understand the Herne Hill Forum will be inviting people to vote for their favoured tree and the popular choice will be submitted to Lambeth. Whatever tree is chosen, it will have to be suited to its location. The Norway maple, introduced in this country in the 17th century, is in fact a tree well-suited to urban locations, being tolerant of compacted soils and atmospheric pollution.

New junction with tree outside the park (2020)

Loss of trees in our cities arouse strong emotions (witness events in Sheffield and Plymouth), so it is good to see that Lambeth will be planting 650 trees across the borough in the current season, with almost 80% as street trees and the remainder in parks and open spaces. Sounds a lot, but should it be more?