The Department of Territory and Municipal Services will face off with residents next week to defend its plan to cut down trees in inner south heritage areas.

A departmental spokesman told the Sunday Canberra Times a halt on tree-felling had been called.

The trees were to be removed as part of an ongoing program to manage ageing and potentially hazardous trees in the suburbs.

''Two senior staff from Territory and Municipal Services will be meeting with a group of Griffith residents next week,'' the spokesman said.

''The meeting is planned to discuss their concerns pertaining to tree issues in the area, including the planned removal of some trees in Captain Cook Crescent that have been identified as potentially hazardous. We will also let the residents know how they can have involvement in the future look of the area.''

But long-time Griffith resident Marguerite Castello who lives on Captain Cook Crescent, from which five Eucalyptus mannifera (red spotted gums) were recently removed said she had little confidence in the program's viability.

''Here in [Griffith] there is an iconic treescape planned by the great visionaries in the 1920s.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times