The Highbury Tree – planted for children who were abused in LBI children’s homes.
“From little acorns, mighty oaks do grow…
why not a forest?”
Doris Daly to ISN, 2018
“Good to know you are still battling – Keep the Aspidistra Flying”
Doris Daly to ISN, 2018
Islington Gazette 15th April 2016
Doris Daly, former journalist and campaigner, was a volunteer advocate in the 90s for 2 children who were in Islington’s care. In 1993, with the two girls and Anna Scher (drama teacher), she planted a tree at Highbury Corner, in the centre of the roundabout, in memory of child victims of abuse in Islington children’s homes. This tree now thrives – it is a pine tree Doris had grown from a seed. She reported to the Gazette in April 2016 her concerns that the tree would be harmed by the restructuring of the area and was accurately reassured by Transport for London that it would remain untouched.
Doris said at the time;
‘Those two girls were overjoyed that a tree was planted for them. The idea was that they too would grow and flourish with the tree regardless of what happened around them‘.
‘Its a victory for the children who were in care in Islington .. their evergreen tree will be preserved as a marker for them to continue to grow and survive tenaciously as their tree grows from a tiny tree to a Christmas tree’.
ISN, since 2016, have asked Islington Council to place a sign beside the tree so that it is easily recognised and becomes a clear and important symbol for Islington survivors in this central place of attention in the Borough.
UPDATE: September 2026:
The council has told us that they have made a decision NOT to put up a plaque for Islington Survivors. No reason has been provided for this decision and there has been no discussion with survivors about it. Yet they display plaques for self professed paedophiles.
We suggested something similar in wording to that on the plaque displayed by the Government of Jersey (2025) ‘To the children abused while in the care of the States of Jersey: We failed you. We apologise for all you endured. We are truly sorry’.
Instead, we learnt the following, ‘The council has decided not to take the proposal forward for a plaque or memorial at the current time’. I wonder which officers, politicians or maybe lawyers, made this cruel, unjust decision and why?
