Bogus claims lead to 'chainsaw massacre' of London's trees

Up to 2,000 London street trees have been given the chop in the past five years, condemned by usually unwarranted subsidence claims, a London Assembly report has revealed. (Environment Times)In some boroughs as much as 40 per cent of trees removed have been due to insurance claims. Yet the Assembly's Environment Committee heard that barely one per cent of these claims were probably justified. A recent survey showed that, over the past five years, 40 per cent of the 325 trees removed in Hackney, 16 per cent of 1,500 trees in Brent and ten per cent of the 600 trees in Camden have been removed because of subsidence claims. In total London has lost around 40,000 street trees with 48,000 planted over the last five years. However London has suffered an overall loss of broadleaf trees and many of the new trees that have been planted are smaller, ornamental varieties. Ornamental varieties do not have the same environmental benefits as broad leaf trees, which play a vital role in protecting the capital from the effects of global warming.

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