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- By Thomas Mackintosh
- bbc news
A stencil of a person holding a pressure hose has also been drawn on the north London building.
The boss of a company responsible for pruning a tree at the center of a new Banksy artwork in north London says the mural has “improved” the area.
Feature green paint on a wall behind a tree trimmed or topped to look like foliage.
Lawrence-Thor Stephen, 33, says the art has sparked a healthy debate about trees in the capital’s urban areas.
Banksy’s latest work also features a stencil of a person holding a spray bottle at their side.
Watch: New London Tree Artwork Is ‘Unmistakably Banksy’
The artist claimed the mural as his own on Instagram, following speculation after it appeared on a building on Hornsey Road on Sunday.
Stephen, who runs Thor’s Trees, told BBC London that his company had a contract with Islington Council and was responsible for tree pruning in the borough.
‘Under strict instructions’
He said he recognized the tree, which was pruned by one of his team a few weeks ago, while watching a television news bulletin on BBC One.
“We were under strict instructions on how to prune the tree almost to the nearest centimeter from where they (Islington Council) wanted to prune it,” said Stephen, from Enfield.
“Islington is a beautiful district anyway and a lot of the trees are protected, but it has 100% improved that area of Islington,” he said of Banksy’s work.
“It’s fantastic how it’s inspired Banksy. He would have needed a complete blank canvas, so he must have walked past that tree and thought ‘that’s a great blank canvas to work on’.”
Islington Council says the cherry tree chosen by Banksy is between 40 and 50 years old and is in poor health, with decay and fungal damage.
Stephen explained that his team used an “ancient form of pruning” known as pollarding, in which the top parts of the tree are removed.
He explained that the practice limits the tree’s growth and prevents weak branches from falling.
“It’s a really good way to increase the lifespan of the tree and contain its growth,” Stephen explained.
“I expect it to grow strongly in the spring and it will be interesting to see how the artwork progresses over the coming months.”
Image source, Ella Nunn/PA Cable
Streams of people have traveled to see the artwork since it first appeared.
People have been turning up to see the works, and one Finsbury Park resident said he was “proud” his street had been chosen.
Stephen added: “He’s gone crazy there.
“It has attracted a lot of attention from naturalists, tourists and many debates within professional bodies.
“The conversation that’s happening around that piece is extraordinary, and it’s fantastic how art can bring people’s attention to the practice of logging.
“It has awakened the importance of trees in the urban environment and how they are managed.
“It’s really good to know that people are opening up about the debate about art and urban landscapes.”
Alex Georgiou, whose company owns the building with the mural, has said he plans to keep the artwork on the wall “and let people enjoy it.”
Image source, James Peak/The Banksy Story
The color used for the artwork is the same as the Islington Town Hall signs, as seen in the foreground.
Islington Council said its graffiti removal team was aware of the artwork and would not remove it.
“Culture is a powerful way to tell meaningful stories and we welcome this work of art to Islington, a district that celebrates creativity,” a spokesperson said.
“This fantastic Banksy piece has created a real stir in Islington and beyond, and we want the artwork to remain for people to enjoy.”
The council added that it had planted almost 90 trees last year alone and that this particular tree had been maintained for some time and pruned for safety in an effort to help prolong its lifespan.
He added that he would continue working to try to keep the tree alive and that it should sprout again throughout its crown.