Haringey Tree Protectors says branches were hacked off to make way for fences and vehicle access, and large patches of dead, dry grass were left following the Krankbrother music events.
Thousands of dance music fans attended five days of drum’n’bass, techno, house, and trance music from DJs including Camelphat, ANOTR, Ben Bohmer and Honey Dijon earlier this month.
Dr Gio Iozzi, one of its members, said: “2025 is the worst we’ve seen it in five years. For the council and Krank to be chopping trees down for a commercial music event which shouldn’t even be held here is shocking.
“We keep asking Krankbrother and the council to move it elsewhere.”
They say they have left a scar on the most biodiverse part of the park, known for its red-listed bird species, historic plane, oak trees and important nature restoration areas.
Local groups including the Friends of Finsbury Park have also opposed the use of the north side of the park for the event, which attracts 50,000 people.
Objectors say a key issue is soil compaction, when the sensitive root zones of trees are damaged under the weight of vehicles, food vans, JCBs and tens of thousands of ravers.
Dr Iozzi added that compaction results in health deterioration and is effectively a slow death sentence for trees.
She said: “The responsibility is really down to Haringey council’s events/parks officers who allow Krank to hold their event here and seem to pretty much leave them to it. Krankbrother is just in the wrong place.”
The raves followed summer gigs organised by Festival Republic on the west side of the park including Fontaines D.C, Stereophonics and the two-day Wireless Festival.
They have campaigned against renting the park out for public events including the Tough Mudder in 2023 which left the park churned up.
But Haringey Council has said such events bring in £1.3 million which is reinvested back into the park and that swathes of park land and grass remain accessible during events.
Haringey Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure, Cllr Emily Arkell, said: “We understand the immeasurable value trees bring to our parks and felling is always a last resort.
“Unfortunately, these two trees were showing serious defects and were hazardous.
“We simply cannot put the public at risk, particularly when the trees are in a heavily used park and regrettably, they needed to be removed, irrespective of whether they were inside or outside the Krankbrother event site.
“We always protect trees during events and guidance is given to organisers to protect trees and reduce soil compaction.
“We carefully consider feedback and concerns arising from events and will ask event organisers to make small adjustments but are confident no lasting or significant damage occurred.”
Campaign group Protect Brockwell Park won a judicial review against Lambeth Council earlier this year over its use of the park for public events – with other groups now considering legal action.
Krankbrother has been contacted for comment.
