Published: February 2nd, 2012
by PAVAN AMARA

AN award-winning film-maker and artist found herself in the branches of an apple tree as neighbours united to stop it being chopped down.

Thalma Cohen, 67, whose arthouse animations scooped awards at a series of film festivals in the 1970s, clambered up the tree in the back garden of her home on Cotleigh Road, West Hampstead, in a last-minute bid to save it yesterday morning (Wednesday).

She planted the tree when she moved in almost 35 years ago.

Neighbours also surrounded it to fend off two men with saws employed by Ms Cohen’s landlord and vowed to tie themselves to it in protest. The choppers later retreated.

The landlord is attempting to remove it from the garden after, he says, his insurance company “forced” the issue due to the tree’s roots affecting the house.

Ms Cohen said it had been her muse for a series of art exhibitions she held in London, Israel, France and the United States. It also features in her 1979 animation Stanley, which was named the “Outstanding Film” at the London Film Festival and won a flurry of French awards including one from the Centre National De La Cinematographie.

Ms Cohen, who studied at St Martin’s College of Art, said: “I made the film about it after it inspired me, and I have drawn it and painted it for decades.

It featured in all my work.

“For the past 33 years friends and neighbours have come to specially visit the tree. I’ve even spoken about its effect on my work in interviews for Israeli newspapers.”

The tree is also loved by dozens of neighbours, including 43-year-old Noel Wilson, a music producer who has worked with chart-topping singer Jessie J.

“It’s a staple of this area,” said Mr Wilson, who lives in Sherriff Road.

There were celebrations as the men from a company called Treecare drove off without having cut the tree down, although residents have been warned there will be further attempts to uproot it.

A driver working for the company said: “We can’t do anything today if people attach themselves like this. I don’t want to kill them.”

Ms Cohen said she would start a petition to stop the tree being culled in coming weeks.

Neighbour Ronald Jackson, 63, said residents from surrounding streets flocked to see the tree in September when it “blossoms with its fruits”. He added: “We make glorious apple pies from it.”

Responding to questions from the New Journal, the landlord said: “The reason was that cracks could begin to form in the back of the house. They (the insurance company) began applying pressure about it in October 2009 and I tried to stave off the issue, but now they are really pushing me.

“What can I do? It’s the tree or the house. I am not wantonly going round attempting to destroy trees.”