By CATHY ARONSON
HAMILTON - A city councillor and protesters have delayed the destruction of 100-year-old redwood trees.
About 40 protesters physically stopped the developers, Grasshopper Properties and Chedworth Properties, from removing about 100 redwood trees on Old Farm Rd yesterday.
The protesters formed human barricades around the trees and six of the group chained themselves to a redwood, claiming the trees were part of Hamilton's heritage.
The redwoods have been marked for destruction to make way for a 230-section subdivision called Sherwood Park. But at the 11th hour councillor Dave Macpherson negotiated a deal with the developers.
Mr Macpherson said he had until next Wednesday to persuade the council to take the land with the trees as part of the developers' reserve contribution.
He said the council had already agreed that the developers would donate land near to the site, rather than cash, but the land selected did not include the trees.
"We might not be able to save all the trees because the council might not be owed that much. But some of the trees are dead and dangerous and need to be chopped down anyway."
Mr Macpherson said the council would consider an urgent report early next week.
He said the council could develop the land into a park.
"We are talking about Hamilton's heritage and preserving the character of the area. The trees have been an icon for three generations. I remember them when I was little."
The trees, however, are not natives and do not have heritage protection.
Protest organiser Peter Caldwell, who lives opposite the trees, said they provided the only form of greenbelt in the area and were a nesting home for herons.
The residents were not consulted about the tree felling until Tuesday, the day before it was due to be carried out.
Grasshopper spokesman Bruce Honeybone was unavailable for comment yesterday.
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