Caucasian Elm Saved - David Nicholson-Lord reports
The magnificent Caucasian elm tree at the junction of College Road and the South Circular has been saved from the axe. The Dulwich estate wanted to fell it because of worries that it was leaning too far and was a potential danger to traffic. The Trees Committee was opposed to the felling, arguing that the danger was unproven and pointing out that three separate reports on the tree, one commissioned by the Dulwich Society, had found the elm - Zelkova carpinifolia - was in good health.
Southwark Council deserves credit for resisting the proposal to fell the tree, which is covered by a tree preservation order. The council said the tree had an outstanding amenity value. The council's position was backed on appeal by a Government inspector, who said the lean of the tree was irrelevant, since gravity is the weakest of the natural forces trees have to face. He said the elm was in good order and vigorous and there was no reason it should fail even during the severest storms. He is also critical of the three tree surveyors for "[ignoring] their professional appraisal of the current good health of the tree - by, for instance, suggesting removal. The elm had an important rarity value, he added.
The decision is refreshing and, for many people, unexpected. Given potential litigation and compensation claims, too few landowners are these days prepared to risk keeping a tree once doubts have been cast on it, and arboriculturalists called in for advice are loath to "guarantee" its future. In this case, unusually, sanity prevailed.
The Dulwich Estate writes that in their view the tree presented an unacceptable risk to the public, due to the fact that it is leaning across a busy road junction and the only solution to remove the danger was to fell the tree. Although the Secretary of State refused consent both to the felling of the tree and the lifting of Article 5 Certificate some comfort was drawn by the Inspecting Officer's conclusions:
Thus the tree remains as a Dulwich landmark. However the Estate points out that it is in the unenviable position of having responsibility for the tree but cannot undertake any work whatsoever without the prior permission of Southwark Council and the Council has absolved itself of any liability by issuing the Article 5 Certificate.
Does your garden back onto a sports field and do you have a gate?
The various sports grounds within the Dulwich Estate, which form a valuable part of the amenity of the area, are leased to individual sports clubs or to the local councils. As such, these properties are private and freeholders whose boundaries adjoin these grounds have no right of access through their gardens or to use the fields (even if they are members of the club concerned). The Dulwich Estate has been asked by its tenants to bring this to the attention of residents living on the Estate.
Improved pathway in the woods
The path in Dulwich Woods leading from the footbridge downhill to London Road, opposite Horniman's Gardens has been widened and lighted. When the path continues, unfenced, through the lawns of the housing estate, it has been improved by the addition of a short flight of steps to connect with Lapsewood Walk. Other improvements are the new gate at the foot of Cox's Walk, on Dulwich Common and the repairs to the surface of the pathway. More frequent inspection of the upper end of Cox's Walk is however needed. There the lighting is almost non-existent, and where it is installed, it is insufficiently maintained. The surface needs the application of more gravel to replace that washed downhill by heavy rains.
