By Thomas MackintoshBBC News19 March 2024, 13:52 GMTUpdated 1 hour agoImage caption, A stencil of an individual holding a stress hose has additionally been sketched on to the constructing in north LondonThe boss of a agency accountable for pruning a tree on the centre of a brand new Banksy art work in north London says the mural has “enhanced” the realm. It options inexperienced paint on a wall behind a cut-back, or pollarded, tree to appear like foliage.Lawrence-Thor Stephen, 33, says the artwork has generated wholesome dialogue about timber in city elements of the capital. Banksy’s newest work additionally incorporates a stencil of an individual, holding a sprayer, subsequent to it.Video caption, Watch: New London tree art work is ”unmistakably Banksy”The artist claimed the mural as his personal on Instagram, following hypothesis after it appeared on a constructing on Hornsey Highway on Sunday.Mr Stephen, who runs Thor’s Timber, informed BBC London his firm had a contract with Islington Council and was accountable for pruning timber within the borough. ‘Underneath strict directions’He stated he recognised the tree, which was pruned by certainly one of his crew a number of weeks in the past, whereas watching a TV information bulletin on BBC One. “We have been underneath strict instruction the best way to prune the tree virtually to the centimetre as to the place they [Islington Council] wished to prune it,” Mr Stephen, of Enfield, stated.”Islington is a wonderful borough anyway and lots of the timber are protected, however it has 100% enhanced that space of Islington,” he stated of Banksy’s work.”It’s nice the way it has impressed Banksy. He would have wanted a whole clean canvas so he will need to have walked previous that tree and thought ‘that is a perfect clean canvas for me to work with’.”Islington Council says the cherry tree chosen by Banksy is 40-50 years outdated and in declining well being, with decay and fungi harm.Mr Stephen defined his crew used an “historic type of pruning” referred to as pollarding – the place the higher elements of the tree are eliminated. He defined the follow limits the tree’s development and stops weak branches from falling off.”It’s a actually great way of accelerating the lifespan of the tree and containing the expansion of the tree,” Mr Stephen defined.”I hope it’ll burst with development within the spring and will probably be fascinating to see how the art work progresses within the coming months.”Picture supply, Ella Nunn/PA WireImage caption, Streams of individuals have travelled to see the art work because it first appearedPeople have been turning as much as see the work, with one Finsbury Park resident saying they have been “proud” their avenue had been chosen.Mr Stephen added: “It has gone mad there. “It has introduced lots of consideration from naturalists, vacationers and a great deal of discussions inside skilled our bodies. “The dialog which is happening round that piece is extraordinary – and it’s nice how artwork can deliver dialogue of the follow of tree chopping to folks’s consideration.”It has awoken the significance of timber within the city surroundings and the way they get managed. “It’s actually good to know persons are opening up across the dialogue of artwork and concrete landscapes.”Alex Georgiou, whose firm owns the constructing with the mural on, has stated he plans on retaining the art work on the wall “and letting folks take pleasure in it”.Picture supply, James Peak/The Banksy StoryImage caption, The color used for the art work is identical as that of the Islington Council indicators, as seen within the foregroundIslington Council stated its graffiti elimination crew was conscious of the art work and wouldn’t take away it.”Tradition is a strong option to inform significant tales and we welcome this art work in Islington, a borough that celebrates creativity,” a spokesperson stated.”This improbable piece from Banksy has sparked an actual buzz throughout Islington and past, and we very a lot need the art work to remain for folks to take pleasure in.”The council added it had planted practically 90 timber prior to now 12 months alone and this specific tree had been maintained for a while and pruned for security in an effort to assist delay its lifespan.it added it could proceed to work to try to hold the tree alive and that it ought to re-bud throughout its crown.