A vigil is to be held after a hedge was destroyed to make way for new tennis courts.

Haringey Council chopped down the 40m hedge dividing the old Bowling Green from the West Tennis Courts in Priory Park on January 29.

A sign put up on January 24 stated that there had been full engagement with Friends of Priory Park, but the group disputes this.

In a statement sent to Haringey Friends of Parks forum, the vice-chair of the Friends of Priory Park said: "This is a reversal of what we had agreed with them. The work we agreed was to remove 5m of inner tree line to allow safe access into the courts - completed on January 17."

The friends group said they learnt the entire double tree hedge would be destroyed two days before tree surgeons arrived with equipment.

The statement added: "They did not inform us the works would start with such indecent haste.

Tottenham Independent: A Google satellite image shows the hedge between the tennis courts and the bowling greenA Google satellite image shows the hedge between the tennis courts and the bowling green (Image: Google)

"Shame on Haringey Council: This is a scandalous way to treat our park and the friends group who represent it."

The council and the Lawn Tennis Association are working together to invest £446,782 in refurbishing five public park tennis courts in the borough. 

As well as Priory Park, renovations will also take place in Chapman's Green, Chestnuts Park, Downhills Park and Stationers Park.

Chrissy Kelly, a member Extinction Rebellion Muswell Hill, said a vigil would take place on February 10 along the "now non-existent" hedge from 11am to 12.30pm.

She said: "There's so much destruction. When I saw that whole hedge I thought we just can't let this pass, we need an opportunity to come together, let's just create a space to mourn what we've lost.

"I'm so upset by this. You can't just keep going reducing habitats in the city willy nilly.

"In a park, surely nature has got to be high up the agenda?"

Jane Leggett, of campaign group Haringey Tree Protectors, said: "Locals are dismayed, there was no consultation."

Cllr Emily Arkell, Haringey's cabinet member for culture, communities and leisure, said the council undertook the work to improve accessibility to the tennis courts to "complement" their refurbishment.

She added: “Adjustments to the plans had to be made to honour the request from the Friends of Priory Park for separate access to the new mini courts. 

“The plans for the tennis courts have been discussed at length with the Friends, who attended several site visits with councillors and officers at which the works were thoroughly explained.”

She said a new hedge will be planted as well as 12 new trees.   

Friends of Priory Park were contacted for comment.