Businessman and kosher hospital food charity founder Feferkorn has pledged if elected to serve residents with “energy and resolve,” branding Town Hall road closure plans as “not fit for purpose.”
The Conservative candidate is also calling for all shared spaces, including Manor House underground station, to have disabled access, argues for the roll back of fortnightly bin collections, would work for the planting of a tree in memory of the Happy Man Tree as part of his goal of “cleaner, more welcoming parks,” and seeks the narrowing of Seven Sisters Road to four lanes.
Feferkorn said: “Over the past few years, we have had to sit back and watch as our elected officials ignore our views, our criticisms, and our voices. As a community, we have spoken out about matters that mean something to us, and we have been obstructed and ignored.
Why keeping one mature street tree is far better for humans and nature than planting lots of new ones
The net ecosystem service of an urban tree is worth thousands of dollars.
Thanks to Victorian street planners, many British streets were designed to be full of big trees and, with 84% of the population living in urban areas, most people are more likely to encounter trees in the streets than they are in forests.
The UK is one of the least densely wooded countries in Europe (at 13% coverage compared to the EU average of 38%) and, as such, its street trees are even more valuable.
Thanks to Victorian street planners, many British streets were designed to be full of big trees and, with 84% of the population living in urban areas, most people are more likely to encounter trees in the streets than they are in forests.
The UK is one of the least densely wooded countries in Europe (at 13% coverage compared to the EU average of 38%) and, as such, its street trees are even more valuable.
This became all too clear as the UK first entered lockdown in spring 2020, when many people spent more time on their local streets and in parks. Online tree app Tree Talk saw a 50-fold increase in users as people fell in love with their local “street trees”.
There is, however, an alternative which is painless and cost free, locally list the whole of the estate. Christchurch Square is locally listed and has some protection and there is, therefore, no reason why all of Spence’s work in Hackney should not be the same.
I would urge everyone concerned about these modern classics to email the mayor of Hackney urging that all of these buildings be given the same protection as the rest of Hackney’s architectural heritage. For further information please contact me on imrankhanlahore@gmx.com.
Thanks and best wishes Jon Burke
Ian Rathbone, chair, Hackney Labour Group of councillors, writes:
Urgent! Happy Man Tree to Be felled imminently . Other trees already being cut down. Protesters face two year jail sentences,
The 150 year old Happy Man Tree mentioned in this article is among 41 mature trees being cut down as we speak. The story has reached national news with protesters facing 2 year jail sentences
I went this afternoon after hearing that felling had already begun, and met with the local campaign group friends of the happy man tree ,
To clarify the Happy Man Tree itself has not yet been cut down, but when I arrived at around 16:00 today, chainsaws were already out, and several huge mature trees just behind the Happy Man Tree were in the process of being cut down.