Outrage over ancient Enfield oak tree 'illegally cut down' as police investigate
An ancient oak compared to "Sycamore Gap" has been cut down in Enfield. The incident is being investigated as criminal damage and has been reported to the police by the council.
The felling of the tree, which took place in Whitewebbs Wood on Thursday, April 3, has left the local community outraged. A "beloved" part of the local flora, the ancient oak is said to have had a circumference of six-point-one metres and to be one of only 60 similarly-sized ancient English Oak trees in London.
A petition started by Guardians of Whitewebbs alleges that the tree was cut down by "unidentified contractors". The group has compared the loss to the felling of the Sycamore Gap, in Northumberland, which saw an ancient oak along Hadrian's Wall cut down in September 2023.
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Guardians of Whitewebbs have said they want the incident to be fully investigated and for the rest of the trees in the park to be protected. It has urged the council to also look into the wider context of the development of the park.
The group said: "We are asking for justice and the implementation of measures to prevent similar losses. With this letter, we are demanding that the council fully investigate this tragic incident. We are also urgently requesting the protection of the rest of the park's trees, which includes other ancient and veteran trees.
"We call upon the council to agree to commission an independent investigation into what happened to lead to this incident. This is an appropriate reaction to the loss of a nationally important tree.
"As the oak was on council parkland, the private contractors would have needed permission for the works from the council officer. They do not appear to have obtained this. The value of the oak was extremely high and the work has left little chance of regrowth. We welcome the referral of this case by the council to the Metropolitan Police. It may be a case of criminal damage amounting to a value exceeding £5,000 - a serious crime whose maximum sentence is 10 years in prison. The tree's value could be more than £620,000.
"We call upon the council to agree to commission an independent investigation into what happened to lead to this incident. This is an appropriate reaction to the loss of a nationally important tree.
"While it is too late for the Whitewebbs Oak, other trees nearby can be protected from future interference and felling. We are calling on the Council to perform an expedited survey of all trees in Whitewebbs Park and Wood with the object of making individual and group Tree Preservation Orders for all suitable candidates."
Enfield Council has said that it was not informed about the felling of the Whitewebbs Oak which occurred on April 3. It has also confirmed that it will be treating the incident as one of criminal damage, which has been reported to the police.
A legal protection order has now also been placed on the tree and it is looking for ways to help it grown back. Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, said: "Enfield Council cares deeply about protecting trees and green spaces in the borough.
"We were recently made aware of the felling of an ancient oak tree in Whitewebbs Wood, which occurred on 3 April. The Council was not informed of this incident until last week. Our teams immediately carried out a full site inspection to assess the damage after receiving reports of the damage done to the tree.
"We are treating the matter as criminal damage and have reported it to the police. We have now placed a legal protection (Tree Preservation Order) on the tree and are looking at ways to help it grow back.
"We will work closely with the police as they continue their investigation into this matter."
Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com
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