Forum Topic

vandalised trees in Churchfield Road

Walk up or down Churchfield Road and have a look at the tree trunks in front of no. 15, 25a, 55, 66, 76 and 78. It looks to me as if somebody is deliberately trying to destroy all trees in Churchfield Road.The tree in front of 25a, a beautiful tree, is beyond "repair". I informed the tree department by the end of May about this tree when the bark had already been partially removed up to 3 feet high. They promised to look into it. Well, looking alone won't solve the problem unless a camera is going to be installed. And I wonder why no shopkeeper has ever seen or reported anything!Unless it happens in the night.By the way, the tree hater has already started to do the same thing somewhere around 15 Goldsmith Road. You better check for yourself how far this problem has already developed.

Christiane Thibaut ● 5561d32 Comments

Are the trees really being vandalised, or are they just shedding their bark in the normal way? If they are Plane trees, they do shed their bark, which I understand was one reason they were planted in London, as they survived the pollution caused by coal fires!I haven't had a chance to look at the trees, but will try to today.

Amanda Knights ● 5561d

definatly vandalism. Very sad.

Thea Buchan ● 5561d

We need to understand why this is happening.  Has anyone any idea?  Do the shopkeepers not like having the trees in front of their premises?

Dee Cook ● 5561d

That is so sad especially as the Council have been planting new trees around the area to try and brighten things up. I canot understand these people they must have a screw loose somewhere to damage the trees.

Tony Crumpton ● 5561d

Dee, why on earth would you think it is shopkeepers.

Kevin Bell ● 5561d

well i would assume it is someone who is mentally ill. There doesn't seem to be any motivation.

Thea Buchan ● 5561d

This afternoon,I talked to several shop owners/staff about this problem and asked them to keep an eye on the trees. The owner of the paint shop told me that 2 years ago the same problem had existed. At that time he had observed a handicapped person in a wheelchair hacking at the tree trunks! I approached a patrolling police constable and informed him about the problem. He took note of all the house numbers/damaged trees in Churchfield Road I have so far seen and promised to open a file this very evening.You have to add no 5 Churchfield Road to the list. It is the tree in front of our bread shop. And the damage to the tree in front of 15 Goldsmith Road has doubled during the last night.

Christiane Thibaut ● 5560d

the shopkeepers could possibly think that the tree(s) would cause an obstruction in front of their premise which they may feel is restricting their business(es) to passing traffic..... there are people down our road who refused to have trees planted outside their houses...!!  And one that rushed out when a tree was being planted at the junction with Goldsmith Avenue and St. Dunstans Avenue asked the planters to remove it.  That is why the one that was vandalised at that location was not replaced!!!

Dee Cook ● 5560d

this must be the work of some deranged person.....!

Dee Cook ● 5560d

Ah, this might explain some suspicious behaviour I noticed last weekend whilst at my window. There was a guy pouring what looked like blue liquid into the soil around a tree opposite the minicab place on churchfield road. It was odd enough to make me film it, so I have some video of the event recorded. It's a bit dark as it happened around 11ish on a sunday night, but any idea who would want it?

dave childers ● 5559d

yes the local police - I'll post the email address shortly.  This would be oil or something similar from a car would it?

Dee Cook ● 5559d

here is the address sntxb-actoncentral@met.pnn.police.uk

Dee Cook ● 5559d

The colour makes me suspect it wasn't oil, too bright blue. The video's not very clear due to the lack of light but thought I'd update as maybe there is someone going round doing this to all of the trees.

dave childers ● 5559d

I had a close look at the trees when this started to happen last month. There are clearly dog teeth marks in the softwood underneath. Debarking trees is common in areas where people are training dogs to fight. I was surprised to see it in churchfield road as I've only seen it on the little scrubbs and occasionally around the dalgarno gardens, where dog fighting has been a problem in the past. The dogs can leap higher than you think and occasionally you can find lower branches damaged in this way. With young trees you often just then the pointed stump left.

David Scott ● 5558d

e-gads you would think that Churchfield Rd is the only rd in Acton, whilst you are all accusing the council of acts of vandalism and lack of street side flower baskets (this is going back a bit I admit) people further east in the borough have to put up with a lack of services - anyone down near the askew road (and yes we do exist and pay council tax to ealing) are forgotten... give it up and maybe presume it isn't the council and if it is, Churchfield Rd isn't the only Rd in the world for g's sake

Louise Brown ● 5558d

Dave thanks for being so helpful and observant.

Dee Cook ● 5558d

Louise, do you complain about your lack of services?

Dee Cook ● 5558d

Yes Dee I do complain when things are not to standard, I am regularly complaining about fly tipping and illegal parking... I just wish that whilst living quite literally on the border of H&F and Ealing it wasn't such a fight between the councils as to who has to deal with things...Churchfield Rd should think itself lucky...

Louise Brown ● 5558d

David you are right its definitely dogs being trained by irresponsible owners = the police should be informed.  I used to see it when I lived in Acton and walked my dog in Woodlands Park

Sandy Stagg-Peterson ● 5556d

Not out cheering the young royals Sandy?How are things?

Sara Nathan ● 5556d

they decided not to come to Toronto - they are getting some jeering along with the cheering in Quebec, though.....

Sandy Stagg-Peterson ● 5556d

Yesterday I talked to the owner of the pet shop in Churchfield Road. We looked at the damage done to the tree in front of her shop which has increased during the last days. She was very upset about it and immediately blamed dogs as there are marks on the tree justifying exactly what you are saying, David.Have you informed the police about your observations? The number would be 03001231212 for non urgent cases.This number I was given by the constable on Tuesday who promised to open a file about our vandalised trees. I will give them a call tomorrow to find out whether he has done so.

Christiane Thibaut ● 5556d

What can be done to protect the trees? Short of catching the perpetrators?I'm afraid i didn't even notice it until this thread started

Sara Nathan ● 5556d

The Council must have someone responsible for planting street trees.... maybe they could wrap something round them, to deter the dogs and their owners. They often do protect very young trees when first planted... Shop owners could even do it themselves with chicken wire.  Better to catch the b-----ds though.

Sandy Stagg-Peterson ● 5556d

As I wrote in my first posting from 26.6.,I have exactly done that: I have informed Ealing Council and the tree department numerous times, to be exact 3 times: 25.5., 1.6., 27.6. Each time detailing how many more trees have been attacked. I suggested that somebody from the tree department should come and put bandages around the trees to prevent more damage being done and help the healing process. Well, my complaints were logged and got numbers! That was it.Today however I wrote a 4th email to the council in which I complained about the fact that nothing has been done so far about this act of vandalism and I forwarded my complaint as well to two of our councillors, Daniel Crawford and Abdullah Gulaid. Whether that will help remains to be seen.May be we should indeed think about protecting the trees with something like chicken wire, at least as long as the council is not prepared to do anything to defend our environment. And may be it would be good to show the vandals that their activity is being followed up and that there are people who do care.

Christiane Thibaut ● 5555d

Lousise, it is most important that each time you complain it is recorded by the Council and given a number. Repetitive complaints should be given some priority by Council Officers , so make sure that you mention in your complaints to customers@ealing.gov.uk that it is REPETITIVE.  (sorry for capitals)

Dee Cook ● 5555d

Sorry, I do care about the trees being damaged, but as a shopkeeper I don't fancy getting sued by someone who catches themselves on the chicken-wire, any other suggestions. If it is fighting dogs being trained I would probably be the one who end up in court for hurting their poor little pooch.

Kevin Bell ● 5555d

This is 'criminal damage' and the dog owners can be arrested by the police.I urge any one observing this type of anti-social behaviour to report it immediately to the police who should take the appropriate action.Could I ask the local PSCO's/Safer Neighbourhood Team to arrange for notices to be placed in appropriate places warning that such action will be forthcoming.

Dee Cook ● 5555d

Louise - apart from complaining to the Council, perhaps posting on this forum about the issues in your roads might be effective too and bring more residents forward in your area.  Don't be invisible.  You can't ask that people don't talk about Churchfield Rd just because you don't live there or post about your road.  Here's your platform.Chicken wire placed around trees by shopkeepers?!  Health and safety!  As Kevin rightly points out.We have 2 trees on the green in Friars Way......they were as one poster described....hanging dead, striped bare.  Now I know why.  There's an owner and his dog who would fit the description of dangerous dog and it seems to happen at night.Well done Dave. We need more people like you, recording stuff and being proactive.  The bright blue liquid sounds suspiciously like weed killer.  Love to catch the person.  Any luck?

Angela White ● 5552d

I we are lucky, things might move on.I complained directly to councillor Daniel Crawford about the lack of action by the tree department which I had contacted several times in the past about the trees. Shortly afterwards, I was contacted by one of the officers of the tree department who then had a renewed look at the trees in Churchfield Road. He wrote - quote:"We agree that guards around the trunks of trees may be necessary and we will be carrying out a trial with guards of several different materials, on trees in Churchfield Road, and also in Trinity Way Open Space. I am meeting our contractor this week to agree the specifications, then our contractor will provide us with a price, for our managers to consider, and, hopefully, agree."He then promised to keep me informed. Well, let's see.

Christiane Thibaut ● 5531d

Well done!Sounds like real progress

Sara Nathan ● 5531d

It looks as though many of the trees now have a protective bamboo coverage along Churchfield; well done to all who rallied to bring this issue to light with the council and a hopefully successful solution!

Sarah Allan ● 5501d