Red Rebels lead vigil to save Oakfield Road plane tree

Dressed in red cloaks and wearing white makeup, members of environmental group Red Rebels descended on Oakfield Road, in Stroud Green, on Sunday (April 2) where the future of a 123-year-old plane tree hangs in the balance.

Haringey Council is due to meet Haringey Tree Protectors (HTP) in court on Wednesday as a legal battle to stop protests near the tree draws to its close.

But it seems the tree’s days are numbered after the owner of one of the homes allegedly affected by subsidence caused by the tree failed in a High Court bid to save it.

• RELATED: Haringey Tree Protectors hold mourning procession with Red Rebels

Red Rebels' staged a mournful dance around the tree, after which residents told stories and sang songs.

Jane Leggett, from HTP, said taking the tree down would not solve the subsidence problem, which she claimed was really caused by the climate crisis creating hotter summers, leading clay soils to dry and crack and allowing roots to push through without a root barrier in place.

"This is now the cause of subsidence, not tree roots," she added.

Tree supporters hold a vigil and celebration of 123-year-old threatened plane tree in Stroud Green (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Sarah Montgomery, also from HTP, said: "I've been involved in protecting this particular tree since last April when I took part in many two-hour shifts sitting at the base.

"I learnt about insurance companies, subsidence, clay soil and Haringey's attitude towards trees.

"They say they only fell trees that are dead or dying and that's just not true."

Red Rebel 'Red Kite', a zoologist, said: "Trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. If you chop down our trees there will be high emissions and carbon dioxide on our streets, fewer canopies that protect us from sunburn and provide shelter in harsh weather conditions."

Katy Treverton, who was part of a failed bid to save an oak tree in Rochford, Essex, travelled in after learning about the Oakfield Road campaign from Facebook groups.

"All this is very sad," she said. "Communities know what is right for the community. "They know how important the mature trees are and they are taking action to protect them.

"They are not listened to by local councils, which is so frustrating. But the community here, same as Rochford, have really good groups who are aware of the issues who will take up with other groups to protect these trees."

A Haringey Council spokesperson said: “We will not be making any comment until the legal proceedings are concluded.”

Red Rebels, a performative activist arts group created as a response to the global environmental crisis, lament the threatened destruction of a 123-year-old plane tree in Oakfield Road, Haringey (Image: Gordon Hutchison)

The background

Campaigners have been trying to prevent the tree being felled since the council announced its plans to cut it down last April.

It feared it could face a claim of £400,000 if it remains standing, with insurance companies Allianz and Aviva claim it is causing subsidence to two nearby homes.

The council went to court in December for an injunction to stop protests, but the hearing was adjourned until March 16 when the judge became aware of an Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) report due after Andrew Brenner, the owner of one of the homes affected, raised concerns that the felling was not necessary.

That report has still not been published.

Three days before the hearing Haringey Council took possession of the tree "in a show of force" amid disputed claims that activists were already occupying it.

At the March 16 hearing, the judge was about to approve the council's order to stop protests when homeowner Mr Brenner launched his own last-minute legal bid to stop the council chopping down the tree, meaning the county court hearing was adjourned again until Wednesday.

Local tree activist Spinderella tearfully hugged the 123-year-old plane tree in Oakfield Road which could be chopped down within days after insurance companies blamed it for subsidence issues to two homes (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

In the separate High Court hearing on March 29, judge Sir Roy Cranston dismissed a Judicial Review into the council's actions, saying Haringey Council had not acted unlawfully in relation to the tree.

Mr Brenner has until Wednesday to appeal.

If the appeal is not permitted Haringey Council will be able to fell the tree.