Mark hangs 10 meters high in tree to protest felling: "A shame to cut it down"
Tree surgeon Mark Helsloot is protesting the planned felling of fifty healthy trees at the Elswout estate by spending his weekend in a hammock ten meters above the ground. While Staatsbosbeheer intends to remove the trees next Tuesday to restore the historic landscape, local opposition remains strong with nearly two thousand petition signatures.
Mark Helsloot has launched a protest against the planned felling of fifty trees at the Elswout estate in Overveen near Haarlem. Staatsbosbeheer intends to cut down the eighty-year-old trees this coming Tuesday, arguing that the site's historic appearance was ruined during Storm Poly in 2023. They plan to replace the trees and restore the walking path by March. In opposition, Helsloot, a tree surgeon, has climbed ten meters into one of the trees and plans to stay in his hammock throughout the weekend. He argues that the healthy trees should be preserved and that the avenue could be restored by planting new trees among the existing ones. His stance is supported by a petition signed by nearly two thousand people. While a judge is expected to review the case on Monday, potentially delaying the work, Helsloot maintains his peaceful protest despite the cold weather conditions.
Based on reporting by rss. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
