Police are investigating the felling of a centuries-old oak tree that has “extra ecological worth than the Sycamore Hole” amid outrage from native residents and conservationists.
Experiences had been made to Enfield Council in London earlier this month relating to the “felony” felling of an historic oak tree in Whitewebbs Wooden, an historic woodland within the north of the capital.
Lawrence-Thor Stephen, CEO of London-based tree care company Thor’s Trees, mentioned the three April felling was a “loss for Enfield” and “a loss for the nation”.
The tree is estimated to be as much as 500 years previous, and Mr Stephen mentioned that, attributable to its age, it’s extra ecologically priceless than the roughly 200-year-old Sycamore Hole tree close to Hadrian’s Wall, which was felled in 2023.
“I can’t imagine this has occurred,” he mentioned. “It is a lack of a nationwide treasure.”
A press release from Ergin Erbil, chief of Enfield Council, mentioned the felling has been reported to the police and a tree preservation order was put in place to guard it from additional harm.
The tree is a pedunculate oak (quercus robur) with a girth of 6.1m, and it’s formally verified on the Woodland Trust’s Historical Tree Stock.
Mr Stephen informed The Impartial that hundreds of species of birds, bats and bugs depend on the tree to outlive. He added that the tree will take centuries to switch.
“When an historic tree falls, it’s nature that’s wounded – and a neighborhood,” he mentioned.
“However from this, now we have the prospect to construct one thing higher: stronger protections, higher consciousness, and a renewed dedication to the bushes that quietly assist all life round us.
“Let’s make sure that this story is not only certainly one of loss however a turning level for motion.”
The three councillors for the Whitewebbs Ward mentioned in a joint assertion that the tree’s felling is “enormously distressing” and the perpetrators have to be “dropped at justice”.
“Crucially, the council additionally must clarify the way it will make sure that this is never allowed to happen again,” they added.
Mr Erbil said in a statement that while the felling occurred on 3 April, the council wasn’t made aware until last week, carrying out an immediate inspection of the site.
“We are treating the matter as criminal damage and have reported it to the police,” he said. “We will work closely with the police as they continue their investigation into this matter.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had received a report from Enfield Council.
Source link