John Lennon's old School as seen through Harthill Copse
In the shadow of John Lennon’s old Quarry Bank school there is a revolution going on down the allotment. Under grey suburban skies, the site has split into two rival factions. On one side the Harthill Allotment Association who wish to create extra plots by felling an area of trees known as Harthill Copse. Directly opposed are a group of plot holders who wish to create a wildlife area and public bird hide.
There is a national issue here. The Government recognises allotments as a major urban wildlife resource. However as renting an allotment becomes more fashionable, decisions to fell woodland to reclaim ancient plots are increasingly being taken by allotment committees with little knowledge of nature conservation.
At Harthill the argument has become increasingly heated amid accusations that the Committee has launched a ‘dirty tricks campaign’ to get the trees cut down at all costs. The problem started four years ago, when controversially an adjacent area of trees was felled. It was agreed that if Harthill copse was to be also cleared it would be put to a general vote.
In December a Committee newsletter asked for volunteers to clear an overgrown plot, then, when they had finished there would be a vote on whether to clear more overgrown plots (that is Harthill Copse).
We phoned the committee for a time of the vote; they refused to give a time beyond ‘whenever the work is done’. On pressing further we were told to ‘stop interfering’ and ‘there is nothing in the constitution to say you have to give the time of a General Meeting’ they then hung up.
We realised that our voice would not be heard. We put posters on the trees highlighting the biodiversity of the site….. they were torn down.
tree tagging
We put Tree Council tags on each tree saying ‘urban trees matter’ …..they were torn down.
Eventually, a third party, obtained a time of 1.00 p.m. on the 27th January for the General Meeting.
At the meeting we discovered that not every plot holder had been informed of the time of the meeting and it was therefore unconstitutional.
The Committee excluded one member from voting against cutting down trees because she had ‘not yet renewed her membership’ the lady in question, was publically humiliated and reduced to tears. She had another five days left to pay before the final deadline. This is one of the worst cases of adult bullying we have ever witnessed.
We have information to the effect that not all members had paid their membership at the time of the meeting
Tiny Woodlands
PO Box 79, Lark Lane, Liverpool L17 2YW
Email: tinywoodlands@blueyonder.co.uk
All images on this site were taken on or around Harthill Copse!