166. Chester

A lonesome plane tree in Southend-on-Sea is threatened with being removed to make way for new flats.

Chester is not an especially astonishing plane tree. There must be thousands of mature London planes planted across our towns and cities by foresighted Victorians and Edwardian urban foresters. Those big trees, over a hundred years old, provide so many benefits to those who live near them, and they have the potential to continue to do that for decades, even centuries more.

Chester is threatened with being removed so developers who have bought the adjacent land once occupied by a pub, can build flats. Chester co-existed quite happily with the boozer for decades, so why can’t he live in harmony with the flats?

I discussed the campaign to save Chester with local residents and Monica Feria-Tinta, author of A Barrister for the Earth, who is developing legal arguments to defend the tree which could set a precedent for other campaigns. Monica and I recorded a video where she outlined the legal arguments for how Chester could be saved if Southend City Council disregard their own planning and environmental guidelines and give the go ahead for Chester’s felling.

You can find more about the campaign to save Chester on the Save Chester Southend Facebook page, and you can see the full discussion Monica and I had on YouTube here.

Species details

London plane
Platanus × hispanica

Where to find it

Chichester Road, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1JF
///oils.regime.gates | 51.536829, 0.714555

London tree walks

The first walks in this October’s tree walk series start next weekend! There are two places left on Saturday’s Hackney walk, and I have announced an additional date for urban Trees from Finsbury Park to Clissold Park on the 12th.

10:30 Saturday 4th October – Hackney: The Urban Arboretum TWO TICKETS LEFT!
You’ll be amazed by the diversity of street trees in Hackney. This tour will give you a taster of what’s out there. Book Now.

10:30 Sunday 5th October – Urban Trees From Finsbury Park to Clissold Park SOLD OUT
Visit two of north London’s parks, and discover a remarkable diversity of street trees as we meander between the two. Book Now.

10:30 Saturday 11th October – Ada Salter and the Beautification of Bermondsey TICKETS AVAILABLE
Explore the green utopia of the former Borough of Bermondsey. Walk through its trees, the legacy of Ada Salter who became mayor in 1919. Book Now.

10:30 Sunday 12th October – Highgate: Surprising Trees in North London TWO TICKETS LEFT!
Discover rare elms, a veteran oak and, imho, the finest strawberry tree in London on this tree walk from Archway to Highgate. Book Now.

NEW DATE: 2:30 Sunday 12th October – Urban Trees From Finsbury Park to Clissold Park TICKETS AVAILABLE
Visit two of north London’s parks, and discover a remarkable diversity of street trees as we meander between the two. Book Now.