Save Trees - Tree Preservation Order (TPO)

One Year in Ashridge - Seasonal Study - www.siobhandoran.com

Going forward from my last blog and being more positive, I have since learned we could have had a tree preservation order (TPO) put on the trees that were cut down opposite our home on Monday. However, we were not aware of this and we certainly did not anticipate our neighbouring print company's disregard for nature.  

I would like something positive to come out of this experience; therefore, if there are some nice trees in your area and you would like them to stay – check if they have a TPO on them and if not, contact your council tree officer and ask him/her to do a visit. It will save you the shock and horror of our experience last Monday.

In the meantime enjoy the images above which I have completed after a years study in Ashridge  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate/

Any further enquiries please contact me at siobhan@siobhandoran.com

Spot the difference - Environmental Vandalism

Monday March 18th 9.45am

Monday March 18th 17.45pm

Spot the difference

We woke up today with all the zest of a spring Monday morning. The sun was even shining! I was quickly jolted out of this humour when I looked across from our garden to see that the tree surgeons were at our neighbours’ across the canal. But even then I thought, ‘no, they couldn’t possibly be cutting down those trees’.

My partner Atul and I are writing this with much regret and anger. Along our part of the Grand Union Canal, we have already experienced the cutting down of healthy and lovely trees with little regard to the thoughts and feelings of the residents.

Last year, the beautiful willow tree was cut down without notice. The people who live here had no opportunity to object.

This morning, Strong’s Printing of Berkhamsted are cutting down the three trees outside their office (opposite our home). Again, there was no consultation of the residents living nearby. The two photographs above show ‘Before’ and ‘After’, or 9.45 am and 5.45 pm. It’s winter now and the visual impact will be much greater come the summer months.

We don’t object to progress, but we do object to inconsiderate behavior, and we fail to understand why the local council did not notify the neighbours in this case. They do if it’s a building going up, but not if it’s a tree coming down. In fact, this site was the subject of a change of use and planning application recently, which was being considered with a stipulation that the trees stay in place!

What we have learned today is that if you want to try to keep trees safe you must get a tree preservation order, but you should do this before you see the chainsaws. We are writing this with the hope you will forward it to others, and hopefully it might help somebody out there from experiencing what we have today.

Technically speaking, Strong’s might be within their rights. However, as I write they have packed up for the evening and gone home – and we that live here are left with the results of their destruction.

Happy St Patricks Day

Charlie - our beautiful labradoodle!

The ‘Gigogne’ by Fornasetti

'The ‘Gigogne’ is a small set of tables presented by Fornasetti as part of Milan Design Week 2010. The designer has used particularly simple and modern shapes that could be used as a coffee table, stool or bench with a pop art element; adding a twist to everyday functional objects.' Located here at Glebe Garden Gallery amongst a black and white themed interior - its stunning! Photograph © www.siobhandoran.com