Lady Bakewell ready to block the chainsaws

AGED 84, Joan Bakewell is too old to be tying herself to a tree trunk.

Nevertheless, she is vigorously protesting against plans to fell a plane tree in her neighbour’s garden in North London.

The broadcaster, who was known as ‘the thinking man’s crumpet’, has written to the local council urging planners to block the request.

‘This is fine and flourishing — a thing of considerable beauty,’ Baroness Bakewell says of the tree.

‘In the autumn it carpets my garden with golden leaves. One day it will begin to die naturally, but that day is not yet.’