Clapham residents have demanded the council plant 280 trees on Clapham Common and retain the area from events like funfairs and raves.

Over 2,000 people have signed a petition calling on Lambeth Council to support plans for a six-acre wood on Clapham Common.

The new trees would reduce the size of the current greenspace by a third and create a horseshoe-shaped barrier between the grassy site often used by the council as an events space and the rest of the Common. 

Friends of Clapham Common, a charity that works to improve the 210-acre greenspace, said the trees would stop private events cutting across public footpaths. The trees would act as "living air-conditioning units" that would help cool the common, the group added. 

Clapham Common fenced off to accomodate an event (Credit: Grainne Cuffe)

A petition launched by the charity reads: "The current size of commercial events has caused significant problems for the local community and deep divisions with the council. "[This] project would create 6.50 acres of open, grassy woodland, in a 'horseshoe' shape, around the currently tree-less event site.

"The new woods would reduce the current event site by one-third, preventing commercial events from cutting across public pathways and creating a natural, living barrier between future events and the rest of the Common."

The group added that Clapham Common has the lowest tree-canopy cover of all the local commons in southwest London. The trees would provide "essential shade" to allow people to continue enjoying the Common during hot summer months in future years, it said. 

A drought-resistant species native to England would be chosen in order to prevent the loss of tree cover in the future as climate change likely brings less rainfall. 

Clapham Common

The petition continues: "The new trees will flank two major pathways leading to the bandstand and create new shaded areas for relaxing, socialising and picnicking.

"Increased tree planting is the only truly effective, large-scale method of carbon capture, which helps to tackle climate change. Having a greater density of flora will also have huge benefits for wildlife by providing increased habitat for birds, butterflies and bees." 

Plans for the new woodland have been jointly designed by Friends of Clapham Common and local environmental group, Wild Clapham. The project has already gained the support of local interest group, the Clapham Society, and the Clapham Common Management Advisory Committee, a community organisation that works with Lambeth Council to run the Common.

The council is currently embroiled in a battle to allow temporary fencing and stages to be put up on the Common for a music festival that organiser Festival Republic wants to hold next year. A government inspector will make a decision on the application following an inquiry due to be held in June. 

Last year the council apologised after local government watchdog, the Ombudsman, found it allowed a series of Festival Republic events to take place on the Common over the 2021 August bank holiday weekend without getting the government's permission.

Clapham Common

Festival Republic's 'Clapham Common Summer 2021' was made up of three one-day music festivals, devoted to Afrobeats, drum and bass and hip-hop/rock, respectively. Other events to take place on the Common in recent years include funfairs and dance music festivals. 

A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: "The council is aware of these proposals and is in discussions with local people about them. Lambeth is committed to planting new trees. We have just completed a 600-tree winter planting programme and committed to planting 5,000 new trees across the borough by 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to improve air quality, cut flood risk and improve neighbourhoods.

"We have invested heavily in Clapham Common, partly using income from holding events there. Events also boost income for local businesses, give people the chance to enjoy themselves and build on the tradition that has seen music events held on Clapham Common for decades. We would be proud to continue that tradition, but await the outcome of the inquiry before deciding next steps."