Last Updated on 1 September 2023
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has made a planning application for the removal or pruning of various trees on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course that it now owns.
This overlooks the fact that this is highly protected land and that all the trees are under a Tree Preservation Order. In our view, the tree canopy should be preserved unless there are exceptional reasons for removing a particular tree: for instance, because it is dead and is in a dangerous condition. Otherwise dead trees can have a value for biodiversity and providing habitats for wildlife.
We have written to Merton Council objecting to this application. You can read our letter here. We have also written to Wandsworth Council objecting to a parallel application in their area and you can read that letter here.
Wimbledon Park Residents’ Association has also objected, using a report from Dr Dave Dawson, a local professional environmental scientist. You can read their letter here.
