A disagreement has meant hundreds of trees are waiting to be planted to commemorate sacrifices made in war by people from Merton.

A total of 420 young trees were destined to create a new woodland in Wandle Park, Colliers Wood, but repeated delays have meant a resident has been stuck with them in his front garden for months.

The trees were a gift from the Woodland Trust to honour the ultimate sacrifice of local people in the First World War.

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Waiting: Some of the young trees being stored by Mr Spears

The saplings are being stored in their pots by Keith Spears of the Colliers Wood Residents’ Association who said planting was supposed to start on Armistice Day in November.

Objections from the residents’ association are said to have caused the delay, because the exact location for the new woodland needs to be agreed upon and some people are worried about the loss of open space, especially given the amount of housing development in the area.

Mr Spears, of Cavendish Road, Colliers Wood, who has led the trees project, said: "It seems significant with it being a remembrance year to plant woodland to commemorate 240 young men killed from Colliers Wood.

"The plan was to have them in Wandle Park and we got permission from Merton Council.

"The air quality in Colliers Wood is poor- we need this." Kevin Godding, the residents’ association chairman, had questioned whether there was space for the trees in Wandle Park.

Mr Godding said: "There wasn’t going to be enough space for people to play in – it was going to be a dense woodland.

"The residents’ association voted to delay it until we understand the ramifications of it.

"We just wanted to be sensible about where we plant the trees."

The trees, which include dogwood, silver birch and wild cherry, are sitting in Mr Spears’ garden until a decision can be reached.

Auriel Glanville, co-ordinator of Merton Friends of the Earth said: "Our group are really looking forward to the planting of 420 trees, a gift from the Woodland Trust, for the First World War Remembrance Woodland in Wandle Park, and whole-heartedly support Keith Spears in this wonderful and thoughtful project to commemorate the 240 men who died and lived in Colliers Wood.

"Only trees can help combat climate change, collect C02 pollution and in Colliers Wood the air quality is three times higher than the EU guidelines, so this area really needs them.

"These trees have been in Keith's garden for two months now and need to be planted as soon as possible.

A council spokeswoman said: "We now have a number of options of suitable places to plant the trees and we’ll be consulting with residents on these soon.

"We have already offered to store and look after the trees locally so Keith Spears doesn’t have to have them in his garden."

Where do you think the new woodland should be? Leave your comment below.