Latest news with #EdPyne
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Why are ancient trees important and what protection do they have?
The felling of a 500-year-old ancient oak in north London has led to an outpouring of anger, echoing the reaction when the Sycamore Gap tree is alleged to have been chopped down in September 2023. What provokes such a response when these trees are destroyed, and do they have any protection? Not surprisingly, the length of time that a tree has existed is the main reason for a specimen to be classed as ancient. "Ancient trees are those which have passed beyond maturity and are into the ancient life phase - which for some trees can be the longest stage of their life," explains Dr Ed Pyne, senior conservation adviser for trees at conservation charity the Woodland Trust. The amount of time for this to happen varies for different types of trees, with some taking more time to pass maturity. A birch tree can be classed as ancient when it reaches 150 years old because of its fast-growing nature, while a slow-growing yew tree would not receive the same accolade until it was around 800 years old. Such age means they tend to be low, squat trees which have a small canopy and a very wide trunk that is often decaying and hollow. There are also trees known as veterans, which may not necessarily be as old, but they have similar characteristics to ancient trees with high amounts of decay like heart rot. Such decay was "not a disease and not a cause for concern" but "a normal, healthy kind of part of the trees' physiological development", said Dr Pyne. The Woodland Trust runs an Ancient Tree Inventory, which lists more than 190,000 of the UK's oldest and more important trees, although Dr Pyne points out it is still only "a snapshot and quite incomplete". Ancient trees can be found across the country on both public and private land, with the most surviving examples to be found in what were once extensive royal hunting grounds like the New Forest and Windsor Great Park. Others can be found in places as diverse as housing estates, urban parks, village greens and churchyards. Britain is known as being particularly rich in ancient trees, with the country having more ancient and veteran oak trees than anywhere else in Europe. Dr Pyne said this was generally down to historic factors like the existence of large hunting grounds which have protected the trees from development over the years. The decaying nature of ancient and veteran trees is one of their key characteristics because of the microhabitats they offer to wildlife, providing homes and food to everything from fungi and lichen to bats and birds. The huge length of time that the decay takes to develop also makes these sites much rarer and richer compared to younger trees. One study found it takes over 200 years for heart rot to start developing in oaks, with substantial amounts of it only occurring after around 400 years. "Some of the biodiversity associated with this decay can be very, very specialised and some species that utilise these habitats can be very rare. "Many of them are threatened simply because there's not a lot of this," Dr Pyne says. There is also the historical element of ancient trees, linking them to past periods of time. For example, the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Tree, an ancient sycamore in Dorset, is regarded as the birthplace of the trade union movement, being where farm workers met in 1834 to protest over wages. As for the Enfield oak, it "would have been a young tree when Guy Fawkes was devising the Gunpowder Plot at nearby Whitewebbs House", said Dr Pyne. And finally, there is the cultural value that ancient trees provide, with people creating their own connections to them. "We've all got trees that we remember from our childhood. That was the tree everyone met at the park, or where you met on your first date," he said. This was particularly the case for the Sycamore Gap tree, which was not classed as ancient, having been planted in the late 1800s, but became iconic because of its position beside Hadrian's Wall and its use in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. There are several policies and pieces of legislation in place which provide some protection for ancient and veteran trees in Britain, including: Tree protection orders, known as TPOs, which can be issued by local authorities for specific trees or woodlands and mean written permission must be sought before any work can be done on them Legal protection is provided when an ancient tree is based in a conservation area or somewhere like a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Felling licences must be sought from the Forestry Commission when the quantity of timber to be felled is over five cubic metres National planning policy framework defines ancient and veteran trees as irreplaceable, meaning that a local authority should not approve planning which could lead to a loss of these habitats unless in exceptional cases, such as national infrastructure work Dr Pyne believes such legislation is "pretty good" when it comes to protecting trees, although improvements could be made. Indeed, a joint report issued this week by the Tree Council and Forest Research warned that trees were only indirectly protected by the law and called for a more "robust and effective system". The oak, which was cut down on 3 April, was located on the edge of council-owned Whitewebbs Park and overlooked a Toby Carvery. Mitchells & Butlers, which owns Toby Carvery, said on Tuesday that it was responsible for chopping down the pedunculate oak, which had been done "to protect our employees and guests as well as the wider general public". However, Enfield Council told the BBC a recent inspection carried out on the tree found it could have lived for several more centuries. Dr Pyne said the tree had "fallen through the gap" in terms of legislation. "It didn't have a tree preservation order, it's not in a conservation area, and although there's been lots of planning applications in the area surrounding this tree, there hasn't been any planning application in the direct area of the tree, and so the planning policy framework hasn't kicked in. "The loss is a tragedy, really," he added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Felled Enfield oak 'had 50-year life expectancy' Ancient oak tree cut down by Toby Carvery Woodland Trust
BBC News
18-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Toby Carvery felled oak: What's so important about an ancient tree?
The felling of a 500-year-old ancient oak in north London has led to an outpouring of anger, echoing the reaction when the Sycamore Gap tree is alleged to have been chopped down in September provokes such a response when these trees are destroyed, and do they have any protection? When is a tree classed as ancient? Not surprisingly, the length of time that a tree has existed is the main reason for a specimen to be classed as ancient."Ancient trees are those which have passed beyond maturity and are into the ancient life phase - which for some trees can be the longest stage of their life," explains Dr Ed Pyne, senior conservation adviser for trees at conservation charity the Woodland amount of time for this to happen varies for different types of trees, with some taking more time to pass maturity.A birch tree can be classed as ancient when it reaches 150 years old because of its fast-growing nature, while a slow-growing yew tree would not receive the same accolade until it was around 800 years age means they tend to be low, squat trees which have a small canopy and a very wide trunk that is often decaying and are also trees known as veterans, which may not necessarily be as old, but they have similar characteristics to ancient trees with high amounts of decay like heart decay was "not a disease and not a cause for concern" but "a normal, healthy kind of part of the trees' physiological development", said Dr Pyne. How many ancient trees are there in Britain? The Woodland Trust runs an Ancient Tree Inventory, which lists more than 190,000 of the UK's oldest and more important trees, although Dr Pyne points out it is still only "a snapshot and quite incomplete".Ancient trees can be found across the country on both public and private land, with the most surviving examples to be found in what were once extensive royal hunting grounds like the New Forest and Windsor Great can be found in places as diverse as housing estates, urban parks, village greens and is known as being particularly rich in ancient trees, with the country having more ancient and veteran oak trees than anywhere else in Pyne said this was generally down to historic factors like the existence of large hunting grounds which have protected the trees from development over the years. Why are ancient trees important? The decaying nature of ancient and veteran trees is one of their key characteristics because of the microhabitats they offer to wildlife, providing homes and food to everything from fungi and lichen to bats and huge length of time that the decay takes to develop also makes these sites much rarer and richer compared to younger study found it takes over 200 years for heart rot to start developing in oaks, with substantial amounts of it only occurring after around 400 years."Some of the biodiversity associated with this decay can be very, very specialised and some species that utilise these habitats can be very rare. "Many of them are threatened simply because there's not a lot of this," Dr Pyne says. There is also the historical element of ancient trees, linking them to past periods of example, the Tolpuddle Martyrs' Tree, an ancient sycamore in Dorset, is regarded as the birthplace of the trade union movement, being where farm workers met in 1834 to protest over for the Enfield oak, it "would have been a young tree when Guy Fawkes was devising the Gunpowder Plot at nearby Whitewebbs House", said Dr finally, there is the cultural value that ancient trees provide, with people creating their own connections to them."We've all got trees that we remember from our childhood. That was the tree everyone met at the park, or where you met on your first date," he was particularly the case for the Sycamore Gap tree, which was not classed as ancient, having been planted in the late 1800s, but became iconic because of its position beside Hadrian's Wall and its use in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Do ancient trees have any protection? There are several policies and pieces of legislation in place which provide some protection for ancient and veteran trees in Britain, including:Tree protection orders, known as TPOs, which can be issued by local authorities for specific trees or woodlands and mean written permission must be sought before any work can be done on themLegal protection is provided when an ancient tree is based in a conservation area or somewhere like a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Felling licences must be sought from the Forestry Commission when the quantity of timber to be felled is over five cubic metresNational planning policy framework defines ancient and veteran trees as irreplaceable, meaning that a local authority should not approve planning which could lead to a loss of these habitats unless in exceptional cases, such as national infrastructure workDr Pyne believes such legislation is "pretty good" when it comes to protecting trees, although improvements could be a joint report issued this week by the Tree Council and Forest Research warned that trees were only indirectly protected by the law and called for a more "robust and effective system". What happened with the Enfield oak? The oak, which was cut down on 3 April, was located on the edge of council-owned Whitewebbs Park and overlooked a Toby & Butlers, which owns Toby Carvery, said on Tuesday that it was responsible for chopping down the pedunculate oak, which had been done "to protect our employees and guests as well as the wider general public".However, Enfield Council told the BBC a recent inspection carried out on the tree found it could have lived for several more Pyne said the tree had "fallen through the gap" in terms of legislation."It didn't have a tree preservation order, it's not in a conservation area, and although there's been lots of planning applications in the area surrounding this tree, there hasn't been any planning application in the direct area of the tree, and so the planning policy framework hasn't kicked in."The loss is a tragedy, really," he added.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What we know as Toby Carvery cuts down centuries-old tree in London
A row has broken out after Toby Carvery cut down a centuries-old tree close to one of its car parks. The ancient oak tree had reportedly been assessed to be dying and dangerous, resulting in the company's owners, Mitchells & Butlers, felling it. However, environmental campaigners described the felling as 'devastating' and Enfield Council have subsequently reported the matter to the Metropolitan Police. Mitchells & Butlers defended the decision, saying it acted on the advice of employed tree experts. But the Woodland Trust has argued that the old tree was still an important habitat, with ancient oaks supporting biodiversity like endangered dead wood beetles. Mitchells & Butlers cut down the tree after tree experts they employed reportedly assessed that it was dying and a risk to the public. The tree, which has a girth of 6.1 metres, is located in near the Whitewebbs House Toby Carvery car park and was felled on 3 April. However, Enfield Council claim they were not told of the incident until after the tree was cut down and sent teams to assess the damage. The felling is now being treated as criminal damage after Enfield Council reported the felling to the Met Police. They have also imposed an emergency Tree Preservation Order has been put in place on the base of the stump. Statement from the Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, on the felling of an ancient oak tree at Whitewebbs — Enfield Council (@EnfieldCouncil) April 14, 2025 Ergin Erbil, leader of Enfield Council, said: 'Enfield Council cares deeply about protecting trees and green spaces in the borough.' He added that the council 'are looking at ways to help it grow back'. The Woodland Trust has argued that the old tree was still an important habitat, with ancient oaks supporting biodiversity like endangered dead wood beetles. Ed Pyne, Woodland Trust senior conservation adviser for trees, said: 'This is the most shocking fell I think I've ever seen in more than a decade working with ancient trees… 'Ancient oaks are particularly rich in biodiversity with habitats that take centuries to develop. They simply can't be replaced by younger trees and can't be replaced quickly.' He described the incident as 'ecologically much more significant' than the felling of the Sycamore Gap in Northumberland in 2023, adding that it is 'certainly a more irreplaceable tree'. Payne added that the development of decaying tree habitats are a 'normal and healthy part of a tree's lifecycle – especially in the ancient phase'. He said some of the biodiversity associated with ancient trees 'is amongst the most threatened in Europe'. Campaigner Paul Powlesland, founder of Lawyers for Nature, said the felling was 'disturbing' and it showed that there is a 'desperate need for better protections for our veteran and ancient trees'. He added that it was 'too soon' to say whether the tree could regrow or be killed by shock. Mitchells & Butlers defended the decision, saying it acted on the advice of employed tree experts, arguing that the tree 'caused a serious health and safety risk'. A spokesperson added: 'This was an essential action to protect our employees and guests, to whom we have a duty of care. 'Upon further inspection, our specialist arboriculture contractors made the assessment that the split and dead wood posed a serious health and safety risk and advised that the tree was unsafe and should be removed. 'We took every necessary measure to ensure all legal requirements were met. We are grateful to our expert contractors for warning us of this hazard so swiftly, allowing us to act before anyone was harmed.' A tree preservation order (TPO) is issued by local planning authorities and is a way to legally protect specific trees, groups of trees, or woodlands that hold significant value for the community, whether for their beauty, environmental benefits, or cultural importance. A TPO makes it illegal to cut down, prune, uproot, or deliberately damage these trees without first getting written permission from the local authority. This ensures that trees contributing to the landscape or local ecosystem are preserved for future generations. According to government figures, there are a total of 39,185 TPOs in place, each with start dates – and end dates, if applicable. TPOs are carefully documented, often including details like the specific trees or areas covered, and are accessible to the public to promote transparency in managing protected green spaces. Cutting down trees is governed by laws that aim to protect the environment and public spaces while at the same time respecting property rights. Violating TPOs can lead to substantial fines, potentially up to £20,000 in a magistrates' court, or even unlimited fines for serious cases in a Crown Court. Trees in conservation areas, which are designated for their historic or architectural importance, require six weeks notice in writing before cutting it down or pruning it If a tree in such an area has a trunk diameter exceeding 7.5cm (measured at 1.5m above ground). Trees on private land, including in gardens, can generally be cut down without permission – unless they are protected by a TPO or located in a conservation area. However, trees that are homes to nesting birds should not be disturbed and a survey may be needed before felling. The incident has reminded many of the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland in 2023. The 150-year-old sycamore beside Hadrian's Wall was a magnet for tourists before being chopped down in an incident that sparked widespread anger. Planted in the 19th century, the tree stood within Northumberland National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its felling also caused minor damage to the adjacent Hadrian's Wall. Two men from Cumbria – Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31 – were arrested and charged with criminal damage to the tree (valued at £622,191) and Hadrian's Wall (£1,144). Both men pleaded not guilty and await trial.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- General
- The Independent
Toby Carvery under fire over felling of centuries-old tree in north London
Toby Carvery has come under fire over the felling of an ancient oak tree thought to be more than 400 years old in Whitewebbs Park, north London. The tree, which has a girth of 6.1 metres, is located in near the Whitewebbs House Toby Carvery car park. It had been assessed as dying and a risk to the public by tree experts employed by the company's owner Mitchells & Butlers, and was cut down on April 3, the PA news agency understands. Enfield Council reported the matter to the Metropolitan Police earlier and said they were treating it as criminal damage. It has also put an emergency preservation order in place on the base of the stump. Environmental campaigners and locals decried the felling as 'devastating' and compared it to the felling the Sycamore Gap tree in 2023. Mitchells & Butlers defended the decision, saying it acted on the advice of employed tree experts. But the Woodland Trust has argued that the old tree was still an important habitat, with ancient oaks supporting biodiversity like endangered dead wood beetles. Ed Pyne, Woodland Trust senior conservation adviser for trees, said: 'This is the most shocking fell I think I've ever seen in more than a decade working with ancient trees. 'In my view, and the view of many others, this is ecologically much more significant than the Sycamore Gap – and certainly a more irreplaceable tree. 'Ancient oaks are particularly rich in biodiversity with habitats that take centuries to develop. They simply can't be replaced by younger trees and can't be replaced quickly.' He added that the development of decaying tree habitats are a 'normal and healthy part of a tree's lifecycle – especially in the ancient phase. 'Some of the biodiversity associated with ancient trees, like the Whitewebbs oak, is amongst the most threatened in Europe,' he said. Ed Allnut, Enfield resident and secretary of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, said local people wanted justice for the old oak. 'The tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage. I am personally devastated,' he said. 'We want answers, and we want guarantees the other trees here are being protected properly.' Ergin Erbil, leader of Enfield Council, said the tree felling occurred on April 3. 'Enfield Council cares deeply about protecting trees and green spaces in the borough,' he said. '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've now placed a legal protection (Tree Preservation Order) on the tree and are looking at ways to help it grow back.' It comes as the Tree Council and Forest Research published a report on Monday, which called for a 'robust and effective system' of protections as part of a wider action plan to protect England's most important trees in the wake of the Sycamore Gap tree felling. A spokesperson for Mitchells & Butlers said: 'The tree was cut back after we were advised that it caused a serious health and safety risk. 'This was an essential action to protect our employees and guests, to whom we have a duty of care. Upon further inspection, our specialist arboriculture contractors made the assessment that the split and dead wood posed a serious health and safety risk and advised that the tree was unsafe and should be removed. 'We took every necessary measure to ensure all legal requirements were met. We are grateful to our expert contractors for warning us of this hazard so swiftly, allowing us to act before anyone was harmed.'
Sky News
15-04-2025
- General
- Sky News
Toby Carvery criticised for felling ancient oak tree - as council reports incident to police
An ancient oak tree thought to be more than 400 years old has been cut down in what has been called a "depressing" and "devastating" incident in north London. The remains of the trunk, surrounded by its severed branches, were discovered by council workers on 3 April in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield. The tree was on the border of a car park for a Toby Carvery restaurant. On Tuesday, it was confirmed by the chain's parent company, Mitchells & Butlers, that specialists advised them the tree was "a potential health and safety risk" and had been "cut back". "This was an important action to protect our employees and guests as well as the wider general public, to whom we have a duty of care," it said. "We took necessary measures to ensure any legal requirements were met." Image: The oak tree before it was felled in Whitewebbs Park. Pic: Woodland Trust Sky News understands the Metropolitan Police found no evidence of criminality and has closed its investigation. Investigators established the tree is not subject to any preservation orders. Earlier, the local council said it held a different opinion about whether the correct permission had been sought. Ergin Erbil, leader of Enfield Council, said: "We are treating the matter as criminal damage and have reported it to the police. "We've now placed a legal protection (Tree Preservation Order) on the tree and are looking at ways to help it grow back." The tree, which had a girth of 6.1m, was thought to be in the top 100 of London's 600,000 oak trees in terms of its size. Ed Pyne, Woodland Trust senior conservation adviser for trees, said: "This is the most shocking fell I think I've ever seen in more than a decade working with ancient trees. "In my view, and the view of many others, this is ecologically much more significant than the Sycamore Gap - and certainly a more irreplaceable tree." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:07 Seedlings could save famous sycamore tree On Monday, the Tree Council and Forest Research published a report calling for a "robust and effective system" to protect England's most important trees following the Sycamore Gap tree felling in September 2023. The trial of the two men, charged in connection with the felling, is due to take place later this month at Newcastle Crown Court. Read more from Sky News: Shoots grow from Sycamore Gap stump King receives seedlings from felled tree Vandals hunted after trees destroyed Ed Allnut, Enfield resident and secretary of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, said: "The tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage. I am personally devastated. "We want answers, and we want guarantees the other trees here are being protected properly." Oak trees are valuable for UK wildlife, supporting thousands of species as well as capturing carbon from the atmosphere.
