Protester halts Jericho tree pollarding (From Oxford Mail)

Protester halts Jericho tree pollarding

7:18pm Tuesday 17th March 2009

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A ONE-MAN protest temporarily halted work to cut back trees at a patch of woodland in Oxford.

Mike Hamblett, 57, scaled a willow tree at Cripley Meadow Allotments, next to Port Meadow, at lunchtime today as city council workers tackled about 20 trees.

The allotment association said the work was long-overdue maintenance that mainly involved pollarding – a form of pruning to generate fresh growth – and removing a small number of trees.

The association hopes to turn the land into a community orchard.

But Mr Hamblett, who was arrested in 2007 for stopping contractors painting new parking lines in his street, said the work was not necessary and the site should be left untouched.

He said: “It is not fair and not right. It’s a haven for wildlife and they have gone too far.”

Speaking before he climbed a willow, he said: “I’ve tried every avenue to contact the council but cannot get hold of a single officer.

“I have been begging the council workers to leave them alone.”

Allotment association chairman Wendy Skinner-Smith said: “This is a joint operation between us and the park department which is in the long-term interest of wildlife.

“It is pollarding and coppicing which will actually introduce far more wildlife than before.

“Willows destroy the bank when they fall and we are now putting in place proper measures to look after these trees better than before. We hope this man’s actions won’t stop what is proper tree work.

“The only trees that will be removed are ones which are damaged or unsuitable for the situation. We will end up with a much better place than before.”

Lord Mayor Susanna Pressel, Jericho and Osney ward councillor, who supported Osney islanders in their tree fight, backed the work of the allotment association.

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