Tree surgeons arrived yesterday (Mar 12) to cut down a mature black poplar tree watched on by the local community and environmental protesters after an activist was earlier removed from the tree by the police.

A campaign to save the black poplar and over 100 other trees in York Gardens, south west London is publicly backed by Dame Judy Dench, Sir Bob Geldof, Sting, Trudie Styler and Jason Flemyng who released statements in support of the cause.

In an exraordinary turn of events work was abruptly halted when half of the tree was lost and the contractors left the scene.
Environmentalists argue the laying of the electrical cable which property developers say necessitates the felling can be rerouted around the tree.