Tree pollarding postponed

Due to the practical constraints of pollarding in the Summer months this year's planned tree pollarding will now be put back to the Winter when the operation will be easier and less hazardous. Meanwhile our tree surgeons will be grinding the stumps from the three felled trees down to the ground as soon as they have time in their schedule.

Formosa Board apologises for hitch in pollarding plans

Sharp-eyed users of the Garden will have noticed that the bi-annual pollarding scheduled for early March was suspended after only a day or so following questions over the felling of three plane trees, two along Sutherland Avenue & one at the rear of Warrington Crescent. According to the original Garden Masterplan these did not appear to be due to be cut down for several more years.

The Formosa Board has now issued the following statement: “An administrative glitch between our tree agency & Westminster Council has meant that the pollarding process has had to be temporarily suspended.

“We understand that as soon as the permissions have been granted and our tree company has the resources necessary to complete the works, the pollarding will be completed as usual. Some residents have written to us to raise concerns regarding the sequencing of trees for felling and the process by which this was communicated. “The Garden Committee would like to confirm that a thorough investigation has now taken place & lessons have been learned, particularly in respect of timely communication with residents. The Garden Committee wanted to apologise to any residents who have been concerned enough to write in and wanted to thank them for their passion for the garden.

“We plan to discuss the matter again at our annual AGM so please do come along!”

Is this Little Venice's unloveliest corner?

Well Westminster City Council certainly seem to think so -- they've identified the area around Warwick Avenue tube station as ripe for improvement under phase one of their recently published Paddington Public Realm Strategy. They point out that the area should be a natural centre for the neighbourhood & a green gateway down to the canal that gives Little Venice its name -- instead it's marred by poor lay-out & a clutter of bike stands & recycling bins.

At a meeting with Westminster's "place-shaping" teams in early March local residents made clear they shared the Council's concerns. Among their biggest bugbears: the cafe for taxi-drivers which often appears unwelcoming towards regular punters; the ugly brick vent up from the tube below;the shabby state of St Saviour's Church which often acts as a magnet for homeless people & the down-at-heel appearance front & back of the -- four-star! -- Colonnade Hotel. They suggested any new proposals could take inspiration from a Parisian square with benches & maybe a little cafe or regular market -- & even a gravel surface to allow for the playing of boules! A statue of eminent local residents the code-breaker Alan Turing or the poet Robert Browning were also discussed.

Public consultation on the initial design phase of the project is expected to take place in June but meanwhile you can have your say by visiting the Citizen Engagemeent Platform Commonplace.