One of the biggest problems affecting green space in Dulwich - the relationship between trees and subsidence - is to be examined at an evening debate-cum-conference to be held in The Old Library, Dulwich College, on September 28. Everybody is welcome to what is expected to be an informative and illuminating evening.
The conference is being organised by the Wildlife and Trees Committees because of the growing concern about the dangers posed to Dulwich's tree heritage by subsidence claims. The numbers of claims seems to be growing, trees are often - and wrongly - blamed, and insurance companies frequently react by demanding their removal.
Recent worrying cases include many larger, older trees - the type that give Dulwich much of its character - in prominent positions in Court Lane, Dulwich Village, College Road and the Alleyn's School perimeter. Concern centres not only on the quality of the evidence - proximity of a tree or even the presence of roots in a damaged area is often taken as proof of causation - but on the tendency for all parties to view the removal of the tree as the solution of first recourse.
In fact, the fundamental causes are a combination of shrinkable clay soils, climate change and soil desiccation, poor foundations and expansion of the built footprint - backlands infill or householders' building extensions too near trees, for example. And whereas householders might once have accepted a certain to-and-fro movement between summer and winter, modern residents tend to want static perfection to their interior décor.
Many of Dulwich's "forest trees", not least the horse chestnuts that are such a distinctive feature of the village are already under from stress from drought and disease (see overleaf). The worry is that subsidence claims, wrongly handled, could in the longer term mean that bigger trees simply become unfeasible near buildings. Given the role trees play in "air-conditioning" - providing shade, coolness and moisture and also hovering up pollution - this would be a sad day for the look and feel of Dulwich. It wouldn't be too good for our pockets either, since trees are estimated at add up to 18 per cent to the value of nearby properties.
The aim of the conference is to clarify the issues as sharply as possible for the benefit of residents and householders. The conference opens its doors at 7.30pm. It will be chaired by His Honour Michael Rich QC, the Society's president, and a specialist in planning matters. Speakers will include Jim Smith the Forestry Commission's London trees and woodlands framework manager, and Peter Osborne, a specialist in insurance cases involving tees and subsidence. It is also hoped to have speakers from Norwich Union - the Dulwich Estate's insurers, and specialist legal firms Representatives from the Estate and from Southwark Council's trees department are also being invited.
David Nicholson-Lord, Wildlife and Trees Committees
