'Cherrygate' Trees to Be Planted on Acton Green

Ealing Council offer to take some of the trees rejected for Turnham Green

Cherry trees in Chiswick - not the variety planned for Turnham Green

Some of the cherry trees which were controversially not planted on Turnham Green are to be given a new home nearby on Acton Green.

Six of the cherry trees are to be placed opposite Turnham Green underground station.

Karen Liebreich of Abundance said, “They have been welcomed with open arms by the councillors and parks department of Ealing Council. We are delighted they will remain in Chiswick. The other ten will be planted in Heston at the other end of Hounslow where the local Friends group and the parks department are delighted to have such beautiful trees.”

She added, “The whole episode has been very time-consuming and depressing, and Abundance is reviewing how it works in future.”

Cllr Jo Biddolph, who represents Turnham Green ward, had acted to stop the planting of the trees on Turnham Green in response to what she said were residents' concern about the choice has dismissed suggestions that the trees were ever at risk of going to waste. Some had claimed that the decision not to plant them in Turnham Green meant that they would need to be destroyed.

She said, “The trees are in good hands and being looked after by the horticulturalist at Greenspace360. They are not and never have been ‘just lying around’ as has been alleged. Nor is it fair or accurate to say that ‘they languish in a depot in Hounslow’. During my discussions with officers at Hounslow, it was made absolutely clear that the trees are being looked after with the utmost care. There is huge pride and professionalism in the team and this must be recognised. No-one wants these trees to be neglected or wasted and they are in safe hands. “

Rebecca Frayn posting notice of cancellation of planting. Picture Abundance London

The row over the trees which has come to be known as ‘cherrygate’ blew up after a decision by the Friends of Turnham Green (FoTG) to plant trees on the open space in the centre of Chiswick was overruled. The planting had gained the support of 80% of the group’s members in a vote on the issue. This resulted in the resignation of screenwriter Rebecca Frayn from the friends group who said she was fed up with ‘petty infighting’. Cllr Biddolph says she acted on concerns of a number of people, including members of the FoTG landscape committee and merely put the planting ‘on hold’ until these concerns had been addressed.

February 27, 2020