Mark sleeps ten meters up in a tree to save them: "They can stay exactly where they are"

Tree surgeon Mark Helsloot spent a night in a hammock ten meters above the ground in a protest against the planned removal of approximately fifty trees at the Elswout estate in Overveen. Helsloot, who finished his protest on Sunday afternoon, argues that the trees are healthy and that the historic lane can be restored by planting new trees among the existing ones. He is supported by the Natuurbelang foundation, which claims the area is a protected nature reserve and has gathered over two thousand petition signatures against the project. Staatsbosbeheer maintains that the removal is essential to restore the historic lane, which was severely damaged during Storm Poly in 2023. According to forest ranger Rien de Vries, the current trees must be cleared to provide space for over fifty new beech trees. Opponents of the plan have filed for a preliminary injunction, with a court hearing scheduled to determine if the scheduled work can proceed this Tuesday.