Woman who planted trees 'distraught' over removal

Sonia Rosenblatt said the trees became a memorial to her friend after he died five days after they were planted

A woman who planted 10 native trees in a north-west London nature reserve has said she was "distraught" when they were dug up and removed.

Five years ago, Sonia Rosenblatt and her close friend planted the trees to "enhance the biodiversity" in site of special scientific interest (SSSI) Bentley Priory Nature Reserve in Stanmore.

The trees became a deeply personal memorial when five days later, Ms Rosenblatt's friend died suddenly.

"They weren't just trees to me," she said. Harrow Council said it was investigating the removal.

Ms Rosenblatt said she received a verbal agreement for the planting in May 2020 from a previous head warden of Harrow Nature Conservation Forum (HNCF) – a group of volunteers who maintain most nature reserves in Harrow, including 173-acre Bentley Priory.

Ms Rosenblatt said she received a verbal agreement to plant trees in the reserve

The native trees Ms Rosenblatt planted with her friend included hazel, hornbeam, hawthorn, beech, and field maple.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that since the trees were removed in May, she can no longer bring herself to step foot inside the park to remember her friend.

"This was a place I just had to go to talk to him. I was distraught. I've never experienced pain like that. Never," she said.

A few months after the planting, a Harrow Council officer threatened to have the trees removed.

'Heart and soul'

Ms Rosenblatt escalated the matter to the ward councillor, Marilyn Ashton – who is also chairman of the Bentley Priory Nature Reserve Committee and deputy leader of Harrow Council – and she intervened to stop action being taken at the time.

Ms Ashton said: "I'm not saying it's wrong to remove them but I felt sorry for her and didn't think they were doing that much harm. It's just a few trees."

Ms Rosenblatt said she maintained the trees at her own expense for five years and was shocked to discover they had been removed in May.

She said: "Initially I tried to not think about it because the pain was too much to bear. Then I got really angry."

Harrow Council said it was investigating the circumstances of how and why the trees were removed

After submitting a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Harrow Council, Sonia learned that a former council officer had issued a removal order for the trees in 2022, which was carried out in May 2025.

Reasons cited for the removal of the trees in the FOI include that the planting had not been approved by the council and their removal was done for the purpose of ecological management.

Ms Ashton said she was not asked if the trees could be removed.

Ms Rosenblatt is seeking a public apology, as well as for new trees to be planted in a satisfactory location and for those responsible for the removal to be held accountable.

A Harrow Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of the trees being removed and subsequently have received a complaint on this.

"We are currently looking into the circumstances of how and why this took place and will liaise directly with Sonia once our investigation is complete."