of magnificent trees should not be and that the Trust’s expert witness considered. Garden “did not make any great claims for LETTERS is a stunning conservation its architectural merit”. area and the tree in questions was I did not and do not understand Widecombe Way, N2 OHL well as visitors to our Suburb: part of Bigwood Nature Reserve why the Tribunal judge should 1) The extra rooms and spaces for according to the councils plans, it have been startled at what seems Sir, additional school activities and was also known as the tongue of to me to be a quite reasonable and Having earlier read “‘Inappropriate’ classes are indeed exceptional. It the ancient woodlands and covered moderately expressed opinion. There extension sends negative waves must be a pleasure to both teach by a tree preservation order, the are plenty of less distinguished around the Suburb” H&H, Sept 8, and learn in these well equipped sheer callousness of the appellants residential buildings on the Suburb. I decided to have a look at the new and inspiring rooms and areas. who were totally unable to prove In fact, that is the point I would be Henrietta Barnett School extension. 2) The outward design, whilst their case shows that fighting for grateful if you, Sir, would allow With respect, it is no monstrosity contemporary is not really sympathetic magnificent irreplaceable trees can me to make it and to draw 24 Ingram Avenue but a commendably thoughtful to its surroundings as an addition be successful. attention to its implications. construction. but would surely have been more This is not the first time or last The Suburb is, in many ways, Built in soft looking terracotta acceptable in brickwork of the time this will happen, Hampstead an (extraordinary) celebration of coloured brick, it conveys part of same colour as the main building. Garden Suburb is built on clay, the ordinary – most of what goes Oak before ash the spirit of Edwardian architecture; 3) Why was this violent red brick currently there are cases going on all on, if we are lucky, is ordinary, My last rainfall column appeared In spite of drought and near that straightforward, domesticated chosen instead of the soft colouration over the Suburb where magnificent and most of us regard ourselves as in April with a little verse of floods, rainfall during the year understatement emblematic of of the main building and the trees are at risk because of the ordinary people. It has been said folklore about the relationship to September has proved to be English Edwardian culture that surrounding squares? Whose choice general lowering of the water table that the value of 24 Ingram between the leaves appearing first very average, 20.1 inches against fits in well with Hampstead was that vivid and violent brick in London, the fact the Suburb is Avenue is that it represents a type, on oak or ash and subsequent 20.9 inches. The distribution has Garden Suburb around. The great colour. Our Central Square deserved built on clay has made it an easy reflects a specific point in the rainfall being above or below apparently been perfect for garden wooden covered balcony at the rear, better from the ‘planners’. target for the unscrupulous! history of taste, is of reasonably normal. Oak leaves appeared produce. Roses may have been suggested to me a hint of Lutyen’s However we are stuck with it! Other oaks in the Suburb good quality and fits seamlessly before ash leaves so we should rather early but were absolutely government buildings in Delhi. After so many years of hopes, under threat are Willifield Way/ with its wider environment. I do have been in for a dry period. In splendid and the growth of new The materials – old fashioned well planning discussions ad nauseam Lucas Crescent oaks and the 9 not think that more was claimed fact, March, April and May were shoots has covered the windows laid bricks, oak veranda rails and and fund raising, it is indeed sad Asmuns Hill. for it in the Tribunal. very dry with a total of 1.5 inches, or elbowed out the competition supports and terracotta tiles on a to see this fiery blot on the Most residents probably feel compared with an average of in the flowerbeds. As for apples sloping (not a modern flat) roof landscape which will stand out Yours that they have tried to do their best, 6.5 inches for the same three and pears, they have never been overwhelmingly gesture towards the like a sore thumb forever. Kim Einhorn have looked after their families as months. So perhaps the old saying so large or so prolific so the rain arts and craft domestic architecture well as they could, paid their taxes, was right! But the rain started in must have fallen, or held off, at surrounding it. It may not be the Yours are sorry for any shortcomings the first week of June and by the exactly the right time. twin of the older school opposite to Jacqeline Morris they may have or errors that they end of the month there had been Perhaps it is as well that we the rear, but it is obviously its have committed and are content to 4 inches, well above the usual 2.5. cannot artificially reproduce cousin. The façade facing the side Name and address supplied go unnoticed by history. July had above average but then the timings next year or the street suggests a human domestic If the criteria for the August dampened many hopes trees might collapse with the scale, invoked by traditional Sir, condemnation of human beings of summer days in the garden. strain. As it is, we will probably handsome brick window lintels, North Square, NW11 In his letter in the last edition of are, by analogy, to be the same as Another 4 inches fell, compared be disappointed with next shallow pilasters in the well the Suburb News David Iwi supports David Iwi’s criteria for demolition, with the average 2.4 inches. So, year’s crops, but will be able to laid brickwork – contrived to look Sir, the demolition of a “fine Soutar then many of us are doomed. thank goodness September turned indulge in the perennial subject like the chimney stacks of a domestic The magnificent oak tree saved by House” on the grounds that the out fairly dry, sunny and, by the of conversation in Britain – the house – and in a particularly the Planning inspectorate sets President of the Lands Tribunal Yours end of the month, wonderfully weather. imaginative deceptive touch, what positive lawful precedence for was “startled” by this description “Disgusted of ” warm – summer at last. DIANA IWI look like bricked up one time future ruthless cases initiated by former windows. An inventive way insurance companies using loss of breaking up what would adjusters and their clique of paid otherwise be a long unbroken, experts. This is a normal and boring brick wall. If it looks new regular tactic they use and the its not the design but the obvious teams work closely together to newness of the brickwork which bulldoze the councils and hence will gradually mellow with time to create unnecessary damage to our the advantage of these features. cities for financial gain with no RA CENTENARY YEAR • 1911- 2 011 This building is the converse thought for our disappearing green of a thoughtless modern, soullessly environment or the value of mature ultra economic, impertinently out trees. They stated that the effects of place construction. It does not of under pinning create more of a attempt to be (who could afford it carbon footprint and advised to now) a pale, inadequate pastiche fell instead. They are sadly mis- of the highly elaborate building informed as it is a known fact that next to it. The indented right angle trees support the atmosphere in many, of the front Central Square side – many ways. This is substantiated suggestive of a large carpentry by research in Scandinavia where joint – pleasingly allows a feature it states clearly that people are to be made of the pre-existing fine healthier in greener surroundings. old tall tree, as well as cleverly giving It may only be a matter of time elbow room to the un-repeatable, until the insurance companies contrived, self indulgent handsome take on board that perhaps illness Edwardian extravaganza next and medicine may be more costly door. To emphasise the point, once than chopping down trees for the new brick of this building has deceitful property developers and mellowed and the wooden supports insurance claims. and rails seasoned, it will look very In a case where the odds were much in keeping with the rest of the so heavily stacked against the suburb. If you were disappointed survival of the tree, Barnet council at first glance, look again and tried to get rid of the financial risk admire the detail and intentions? I and back down because of their think that if the great Sir Edwin lack of funds in favour of the Lutyens were around, he would appellant Marishal Thompson Group, recognise and appreciate the a heavyweight arboriculture company thoughtfulness and cousinship of specialising in insurance claims. the modern, cash restrained Their client was Infront Innovation. architects of this building. And the chain goes on… A heavy blow was struck with this successful Yours case to the greed and ‘financial Robert Sutherland Smith bullying’ tactics of these types of companies. Barnet Council committees, including John Marshall, rejected officers’ recommendation for Temple Fortune Lane, NW11 removal. In the end it was council ‘How lucky we are tree officer Ann Currell, with of Sir, course the entire backing of * I read with interest Shana Nieburg- Trust, Suschitsky’s thoughts on the the RA, many residents and to live here’ Henrietta Barnett School extension. representation from the Friends Along with other girls in my family Meeting House (Quakers), who I also attended HBS – my slot being successfully defended the tree. It’s up to us to preserve the Suburb. Please don’t just leave it to others. 1939-1945, quite an eventful Hampstead Garden Suburb schooling. Even then more space has managed to save one of its Join the Residents Association and let your voice be heard. Pick up a leaflet or join on line. was needed, the space being shared heritage 140-year-old oaks. Thanks with Institute classes. must also go to the caring and Although I am in no way common sense of the planning www.hgs.org.uk architecturally qualified, these are inspector John Felgate who made my thoughts on the new buildings, it quite clear that when under *Philip Davies who has been an English Heritage Director and is a lifelong Suburb resident shared with many residents as pinning was an option the felling SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS 11