http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/church-supports-project/4593686592
Sounds like a nice bloke.
1 Like
Yes, this is true. Now as a result, the judgment has taken the Councilâs ecological assessment as the authoritative one (undertaken by the same firm that does tree surgery work for the council), so environmental issues were not an influence on the decision, in the absence of any ecological argument from the objectors.
Now we can expect planning applications (from the council to the council).
1 Like
Cut 'em down and plant them again - so good for the environment
Copied from www.relevantnow.com
Beefriendly trees for churches in Diocese of Southwark ď ď ď
Churches across London can make their neighbourhood a greener, more bee-friendly place as part of a new project supported by the Mayor of London.
The Conservation Foundationâs Trees for Sacred Spaces project is enabling churches in the London, Southwark, Chelmsford and Rochester dioceses to plant trees that support bees and other pollinators as part of the Mayorâs ambition to make London one of the greenest cities in the world. The tree plantings will also offer an opportunity for churches to organise events and ceremonies that involve members of other faiths in their parishes to celebrate and help to enhance the environments that people of all faiths and no faith share.
There are over 600 churchyards or areas of church land within Greater London. Whilst not all churches have suitable spaces, those with no space to plant a tree will be encouraged to donate one to a school or community garden within their parish, helping to increase Londonâs tree canopy cover and support bees and other wildlife to thrive in London.
The project is supported by the diocesan bishops. The Rt Revd Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, says, âIn our global city, in this interconnected world, practising love of our neighbours means looking after the natural environment that we share. Parishes across Londonâs dioceses have made strides in encouraging biodiversity in our churchyards through Churchyards for London. It gives me great pleasure that one of the final projects I will launch as Bishop of London will offer our churches the opportunity to plant more trees in their areas, contributing to local air quality as well providing places of peace and beauty for generations to come.â
Bishop Chartres played a pivotal role in developing The Conservation Foundationâs Yews for the Millennium project which planted over 8000 yew trees, many in churchyards, throughout the country to celebrate the year 2000.
The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Revd Christopher Chessun, is equally enthusiastic. He explains, âThe Mayor of Londonâs tree planting initiative is an innovative way of contributing to the life of Londonâs communities by improving the cityâs air quality and also brightening its public spaces.
He continues, âThe Diocese of Southwark is playing its part in the initiative by giving all of our parishes in the Greater London area a tree for their churchyard, or to pass to their local schools and community gardens. I am pleased to commend this project as an important way of helping to steward the earthâs natural resources.â
Welcoming the involvement of churches, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy, Shirley Rodrigues, says, âThe Mayor wants London to be one of the worldâs greenest cities and is introducing a wide range of measures to fulfil this ambition: a first step has been the commitment to provide ÂŁ750,000 to plant more than 40,000 new London trees this winter, including helping The Conservation Foundation plant more than 600 trees in or near churchyards across London.â
David Shreeve, director of The Conservation Foundation, says, âA fifth of the capital is already covered by trees but some parts of London are short of greenery. Churches can play an important role in helping to make these areas look and feel better by planting one of the trees. All the trees available will be bee-friendly and therefore as well as benefiting Londonâs landscape and atmosphere they will also be supporting the capitalâs pollinators.â
The trees will be available between March and June 2017. Those wishing to take part are asked to visit www.conservationfoundation.co.uk/trees to find out more and to register to receive trees.
1 Like
Yes I noticed Southwark Diocese self-promoting their planting a small handful of trees:
Theyâve just agreed to cutting down far more trees than theyâll be planting. In a precious area of woodland that gives the Honor Oak area its character.
And theyâll be replacing this historic woodland area with barren graves, with a minimum of tree planting - if any.
Thatâs not actually true.
Older trees capture carbon at a higher rate than young trees:
In terms of carbon capture thatâs true. In terms of supporting biodiversity older trees provide an important environment for wildlife.
2 Likes
In what sense are graves âbarrenâ?
Is there an implicit anti-religious motive behind this anti-graveyard campaign?
It is not a graveyard. Yet.
No. The graves are barren, at least in the way that they are managed by Southwark Council, from a biodiversity perspective. Almost a monoculture in fact.
1 Like
I still think they should do tree burials.
2 Likes
This is a difficult subject - Right now, Iâm someone who is immersed in funeral arrangements and when (I donât even want to think about it) my mum passes away - I will find the money to make sure she has a grave/burial and not a cremation (my choice) - and of course one close to me. This is not a new problem, in the old days, particularly during the many plagues and the London human-growth explosion of the industrial revolution, dead bodies were transported out of the city because the authorities simply couldnât cope and didnât have the space. However, for many, it is very important to be able to regularly visit their loved oneâs who have departed, have some peaceful time of reflection in front of where they are buried, lay some flowers, establish a tomb stone with a personal message inscribed upon to commemorate that the personsâ life left a foot print. It is a comfort and the friends and relatives way of connecting in respect and solace. Itâs a tough one - I love all things greenery, trees and nature - I nearly weep when people pave over their gardens to make them easier to look after, build over land, pull up established nature for the âmust have/in vogue lookââŚbut I also have huge respect and understanding for humans and their needs and feelings to find a designated and recognised resting place for those they love, that is close to them - and of course, in a City - that always comes at a price - space costs.
2 Likes
Not at all. There were several options for the graveyard in the original consultation. Some of them were far less destructive. Unfortunately Southwark Council ignored the result of the consultation and chose the most barren. That is, the option with the fewest trees and natural features.
Understood @Gillipops and thanks for posting this.
You are right but we are in a position now where we are running out of space again. Some salient points to consider also:
- Southwark is unusual as an inner London borough in that they are still trying to accommodate all burial within the borough;
- The space that they want to convert to cemetery is new burial space (Old Nursery site and One Tree Hill). In the case of the latter this adjoins ancient woodland and parts will have a 1 in 5 slope if you want to visit a grave up there;
- A relatively new concept in this country is one of burial in perpetuity. This is now legislated against which opens up the possibility of re-use after 75 years. Some people are not comfortable with this but it should be borne in mind that this legislation, by a quirk possibly, does not apply to the Camberwell cemeteries. This will not change without a Lords amendment (oddly they have other business on their plate right now) yet the council burial strategy relies on this as well as the new burial space they plan for in order to cope with the future burial requirement (assuming this happens in borough);
- The burial requirement just mentioned is not just for locals. This includes burial for anyone in London prepared to pay for it.
For me, it is hard to see this as a sustainable strategy. Am sorry, I realise this is very delicate. But I do hope a compromise can be reached which repescts those already laid to rest and the needs of the living.
1 Like
Church backs destruction of inner city woods and graves
Dear friends, thank you. More than 900 of you in this campaign wrote to the Diocese of Southwark to object to Southwark Councilâs destructive development of the Camberwell Cemeteries.
Now, the Church of England has been forced to reveal their contempt for nature and heritage in our cemeteries.
The Consistory Court of the Diocese of Southwark has just approved Southwark Councilâs applications to cut down two acres of woods in Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries.
It was not unexpected but it is still painful to see the Church support such destruction. They received only three letters in support. Their argument was that it is okay to cut down a tree for burial plot.
The Church even tried to ridicule this campaign by saying weâre all valuing trees too highly. So much for caring for Godâs creation!
You can read the six-page ruling by Consistory Court judge and Southwark Diocese Chancellor Philip Petchey here (he wrote âExhumation Reconsideredâ in 2001, promoting digging up the dead for new burial plots).
But we have made tremendous progress and weâre not going away.Together, we are forcing the Church to justify their actions.
And we are exposing the Cemetery industry - the Church and Council included - for their greedy and destructive plans.
Hereâs what the Diocese of Southwark has approved:
Destruction of two and a half acres of inner city woods and green space in Camberwell Old Cemetery and on One Tree Hill in Camberwell New Cemetery - paving the way for the destruction of cemetery woods throughout London and indeed Britain.
Desecration of the resting place of the dead, removing family memorials to mound over 48,000 graves - including 48 Commonwealth War Graves - and driving a vehicle access road over graves on One Tree Hill.
Digging up the dead is acceptable - even though this wasnât even part of this application and no families have been consulted.
Burying people over other peopleâs graves is acceptable - even though it is against many peopleâs faiths
The full press release is here - including the complete court ruling:
http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/church-supports-project/4593686592
Thank you again for being a part of the Save Southwark Woods campaign, weâre not going away.
You can sign up to our newsletter here for more frequent campaign updates
We will keep fighting together to protect the woods and graves of the old cemeteries and preserve them as Nature Reserves, like Highgate and Nunhead Cemeteries.
Blanche Cameron
Chair, Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries
The Save Southwark Woods Campaign
07731 304 966
savesouthwarkwoods@gmail.com
www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk
@southwarkwoods
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthwarkWoods/
2 Likes
@wmorgan1 thanks for sharing, Wendy, and for your campaign efforts.
Very important that we donât let Southwark Council and the Church get away with ignoring the overwhelming results of the public consultation.
As you say, the precedent set here is very dangerous.
The churches stance doesnât surprise me. Their persecution of people to pay glebe rent still wrinkles many.
One aspect I have been mistaken on. I had assumed that a planning application would be required. Not so, approval already given in 2015 will suffice apparently even though the scope of works have changed since:
http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk:8190/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=relatedCases&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_9561896
The only thing that could delay tree felling is nesting birds or roosting bats.
1 Like
Tree felling has started. The council were meant to have assessed the site for nesting birds or bat roosts but there is some doubt they have done this. It is definitely bird nesting season and bats will be awaking after hibernation.
There is an emergency demo at 12pm tomorrow (Sat 11th March) meeting at the Brenchley Garden gates or shortly after at the glade that is threatened. Press will be there. Please come if you can.
1 Like
I really donât think the council/diocese care about a demo. Sorry.
Theyâll be forced to care if London-wide media covers the demo. I hope it does.
1 Like