About our views

Those who oppose the wholesale felling and replacement of the avenues which give the Walks its name support other aspects of the HLF restoration bid. We want informed debate and urge those who are genuinely concerned to obtain information on the project first hand so that they may make their own judgement on the issues. Don't just accept the facile Council summaries. It's not as complex as Richard Hales claims.

WAG believes that the tree surveys and other reports do not justify wholesale tree removal, unless you make outrageous assumptions first. We question whether the proposals are in the long term interests of the Walks, and whether they plan for continuous maintenance. We are in favour of a sustainable management programme which is sensitive to concerns about environmental issues and wildlife.

We believe that a heritage restoration should address all aspects of the park's heritage including the existing heritage trees. We question whether a landscape restoration which places such heavy emphasis on "the aesthetic value of tree avenues of consistent age" over concern for individual mature trees reflects what the people of Lynn endorsed when asked about their hopes for the future of their park.

We are dismayed by the "whispering campaign" that promotes such legends as "you have to kill trees to get the Red Mount restored" and "it's all or nothing." Crystal Palace Park clearly shows that HLF can approve parts of bids. We'd prefer the Council to fix the bid before approval, as then we could have a sustainable tree plan as well as buildings restored.

All we ask is that people give these issues a fair hearing. The time for debate is now not in April when they get the bid decision and not in September 2005 when the contractors appear on site to begin felling. Contact your councillors and get them to change BCKLWN's mind.

The Walks themselves

"A new strategy for replacement of the avenues is proposed. It is evident that the existing avenues are deteriorating and will become increasingly gappy over the coming years. Various suitable replacement options have been evaluated but it is clear that gradual piecemeal replacement of the avenues will result in an inconsistent age structure and poor appearance over a long time period." (From the 2004 plan)

It isn't evident to me. Most of the trees look fine: I bet if you were examining the trees one by one for condition, you'd find about ten that aren't good. Of course they'll become increasingly gappy, but so will the replacements. What's more, little trees are much more vulnerable than big ones so the new avenues will get gappier quicker. Of course, filling in the gaps 'will result in an inconsistent age structure and poor appearance' so we won't be much better off there, will we? Except, of course we'll be losing these:

and an awful lot more like them.

"It is therefore proposed that the tree avenues at the Broad Walk, Seven Sisters and Red Mount will be replanted in their entirety"

This is what it's going to look like (artist's impression from Scott Wilson on left) and this is how it looks now from the same viewpoint (on right). :

"...new trees...large...instant impact..." - Apparently this means 30-35cm girth at 1 metre high. The small tree in this photo has 32cm girth 1 metre high. Looks pretty weedy, doesn't it?