Haringey Council promises ‘tough action’ to protect mature trees

The North London borough has set out plans to protect its ‘green skyline’, in turn improving air quality. 

Haringey Council has promised to take ‘tough action’ in a bid to protect mature trees in the area, with plans contributing to ongoing net zero efforts. 

The North London borough’s Local Plan improves current measures to protect the so-called ‘green skyline’, with new steps including rolling out a dedicated trees policy, including expectations that developers will retain and protect mature and veteran trees rather than felling or risking causing damage to them. Bespoke guidance will be developed to achieve this, with details of implementation and how to interpret the rules. 

Additionally, new construction projects will be asked to maximise the number of native tree species used in projects. A dedicated tree council officer is already in place, overseeing the management, safeguarding and planting of trees within development sites, with overall ambitions in place to increase the borough’s tree canopy by 30% in all wards, and introduce 10,000 new trees by 2030, with 2,000 semi-mature trees planted this year. The public is being asked to get involved in a consultation process on the forthcoming protection plans, which is set to begin in the New Year.  

‘With each passing year the climate and biodiversity emergencies become increasingly urgent. We are determined to take huge steps to reduce carbon with an ambitious and transformational programme which will make our borough one of the greenest in the capital,’ said Cllr Mike Hakata, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport. ‘

‘This includes not only planting thousands of new trees, but also re-writing our planning documents so that careful consideration is given to incorporating existing trees into the design and layout of any new development and protecting them during construction.  It will set the standard when it comes to planning and housing developments,’ he continued.

Find out about new software released last year to help authorities use trees to tackle air pollution. 

Image: Clay Banks