Council threat to forbidden fruit

Residents of St John's Villas in Islington love the mature trees, saying they produce fragrant blossom in spring that gives the street character.

But last year the trees were heavily pruned by Islington council workers with the result that they produced abnormally large fruit.

The pears, some said to be nearly twice the size of a cricket ball, were deemed a hazard after the council received complaints that people and property might be at risk from falling fruit.

Notices were posted on the trees saying they were to be cut down and this produced a storm of protest.

"How can anybody think of cutting down these fantastically spectacular trees?" said resident Bridget Butt. "They are incredibly beautiful. Every spring they produce the most amazing blossom which is breathtaking."

Ms Butt believes the council acted hastily to cover up its own mistake.

She said: "The [big] pears suddenly appeared thanks to the council pruning them drastically. It is considering how to prevent a repeat crop next year."

Ms Butt said residents offered to pay for the fruit to be picked if it would save the trees but their offer was rejected.

Heidi Greenacre, 36, an interior designer, said she had never seen anything like the pears and added: "Rather than cutting the trees down, we should be making the most of the fruit."

Some other residents are torn. Martin Boyes, 41, an IT consultant said: "When the pears fell it did get very messy as they got trodden into a pulp and I think the rats were at them. Having said that, I'm against cutting down trees if there's no need. They [the council] should just make an effort to clean the pears up."

But one woman, who refused to give her name, said: "They are rather dangerous. What if the pears were to fall and hit somebody on the head or crack a car window?"

Now the council has granted the trees a stay of execution. Councillor Ruth Polling said: "We have decided not to remove the trees without further resident consultation. It is a very unusual situation but three of these pear trees bear exceptionally large fruit that's been known to break branches, damage cars and cause the pavement to become dangerously slippery.

"Some residents called for the council to replace the trees with a species more suited to street planting. However, others want to protect the trees."