Latest news with #WhitewebbsOak
The Guardian
15-04-2025
- The Guardian
Felling of ancient London oak tree reported to police
The sudden felling of one of the oldest and largest oak trees in London has been reported to police, as campaigners renewed calls for better protection for such nationally significant trees. The oak in Whitewebbs park in Enfield was up to 500 years old, with a trunk that was more than six metres in circumference. It was listed on the Woodland Trust inventory of ancient trees, but was not the subject of a tree preservation order. The tree was felled earlier this month by contractors working for Mitchell and Butlers Retail (MBR) who run a nearby Toby Carvery and lease the land where the tree stood from Enfield council. The council said it had not been informed of the decision to cut down the tree and urged the Metropolitan police to investigate. The council leader, Ergin Erbil, said: 'We are treating the matter as criminal damage and have reported it to the police.' The council has now placed a tree preservation order on the remaining trunk in the hope that it may grow back. A source close to MBR said the tree was discovered to be diseased and was felled for safety reasons. They said: 'We were advised by experts that it was dangerous and posed a risk to people. These were professional contractors and this was supposed to be routine maintenance. 'Upon inspection they found that it was mostly dead and diseased and in their professional opinion it posed a risk to the public and needed to come down. We would be in so much trouble if we ignored that advice.' Campaigners have express dismay at the incident. Writing on X, Paul Powlesand, co-founder of the Lawyers for Nature, said: 'This shows the desperate need for better protections for our veteran and ancient trees. A building the same age as this tree would almost certainly be listed (council owned or not), and we should have an equivalent system for trees, with equivalent enforcement and punishment.' Adam Cormack, head of campaigning at the Woodland Trust said: 'This depressing crime is a reminder to all of us that not every ancient tree is in a safe place. 'It is very unusual to see the felling of an oak tree of this size and age. Legally protected status for trees like the Whitewebbs Oak is long overdue. 'This issue has widespread public support and is an open goal for the government to act upon.' The trust is campaigning for legislation that would make a list of nationally important heritage trees the subject of preservation orders. Later this month the trial two men accused of felling the sycamore gap tree is due to take place at Newcastle crown court. Experts say ancient oaks have more ecological value that sycamores because they support hundreds more species. A blogpost by the tree company Thores Trees said: 'Ancient trees like this one are living ecosystems in themselves. This oak was a lapsed pollard, a sign of historical land management, left to mature over centuries into a vast and unique habitat. Its sheer size and age meant it was home to hundreds of species, many of which rely solely on old trees like this to survive.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
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. READ MORE: Met Police officer said rape victim 'just got raw dogged in a park by two blokes and regrets it' READ MORE: 'I may be forced to leave London for Scotland to get life-saving cancer drug on the NHS' 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 Stay in the loop with the latest North London news. Sign up to our MyNorthLondon newsletter HERE for daily updates and more.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Felling of ancient oak tree probed by police
The cutting down of an ancient oak tree in north London is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police. The remains of the oak, estimated to be up to 500 years old, were discovered by council workers last week in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield. An emergency tree preservation order has now been imposed on the base of its stump. The tree, with a girth of 6.1m (20ft), was a nationally significant pedunculate oak and listed on the Woodland Trust's national ancient tree inventory. Enfield resident and member of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, Benny Hawksbee, said "the tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage - I am devastated". The leader of Enfield Council, Ergin Erbil, said they were treating the matter as criminal damage and had reported it to the police. He added: "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." Jon Stokes, director of trees, science and research at the Tree Council, said the felling of such a "magnificent" tree was shocking. He added: "Ancient oaks can live up to 1,000 years old and are as precious as our stately homes and castles. "Our nation's green heritage should be valued and protected and we will do everything we can to achieve this." The Woodland Trust's head of campaigning Adam Cormack said the tree's loss was "devastating". He said: "We don't know yet who did this or why and would urge anyone with information to come forward and report it to the police. "This depressing sight is a reminder to all of us that not every ancient tree is in a safe place. "It is very unusual to see the felling of an oak tree of this size and age. Legally protected status for heritage trees like the Whitewebbs Oak is long overdue." The trust's Living Legends petition, which aims to secure such status for heritage trees, and which attracted more than 100,000 signatures, was handed in to Downing Street in November. The issue of tree preservation was highlighted after the destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree in September 2023. There was outrage when the tree, which stood in a dip next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, was chopped down. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, have been charged with causing criminal damage put at more than £600,000. They will appear before a jury at a trial starting on 28 April at Newcastle Crown Court. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Sycamore Gap tree: The story so far Date set for Sycamore Gap tree felling trial New woodland planted in honour of Sycamore Gap
BBC News
15-04-2025
- BBC News
Felling of ancient oak tree in Enfield sparks Metropolitan Police probe
The cutting down of an ancient oak tree in north London is being investigated by the Metropolitan remains of the oak, estimated to be up to 500 years old, were discovered by council workers last week in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield. An emergency tree preservation order has now been imposed on the base of its tree, with a girth of 6.1m (20ft), was a nationally significant pedunculate oak and listed on the Woodland Trust's national ancient tree resident and member of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, Benny Hawksbee, said "the tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage - I am devastated". The leader of Enfield Council, Ergin Erbil, said they were treating the matter as criminal damage and had reported it to the added: "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."Jon Stokes, director of trees, science and research at the Tree Council, said the felling of such a "magnificent" tree was added: "Ancient oaks can live up to 1,000 years old and are as precious as our stately homes and castles."Our nation's green heritage should be valued and protected and we will do everything we can to achieve this." The Woodland Trust's head of campaigning Adam Cormack said the tree's loss was "devastating".He said: "We don't know yet who did this or why and would urge anyone with information to come forward and report it to the police."This depressing sight is a reminder to all of us that not every ancient tree is in a safe place."It is very unusual to see the felling of an oak tree of this size and age. Legally protected status for heritage trees like the Whitewebbs Oak is long overdue."The trust's Living Legends petition, which aims to secure such status for heritage trees, and which attracted more than 100,000 signatures, was handed in to Downing Street in November. Trial due to start The issue of tree preservation was highlighted after the destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree in September was outrage when the tree, which stood in a dip next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, was chopped Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, have been charged with causing criminal damage put at more than £600, will appear before a jury at a trial starting on 28 April at Newcastle Crown Court.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Locals ‘devastated' after 400-year-old tree mysteriously felled in London park
Environmental campaigners and locals have decried the 'devastating' felling of an ancient oak tree thought to be more than 400 years old in a north London park. Enfield Council workers discovered the tree, which has a girth of 6.1 metres, surrounded by its severed branches and trunk in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, last week. The incident has been reported to the Metropolitan Police and the council has put an emergency preservation order in place on the base of the stump. The tree is thought to be in the top 100 of London's 600,000 oak trees in terms of its size. The Woodland Trust, which has been advocating for legal protections for the country's oldest and most important trees, called the incident 'devastating'. Adam Cormack, the charity's head of campaigning, said: 'We don't know yet who did this or why and would urge anyone with information to come forward and report it to the police. 'This depressing crime is a reminder to all of us that not every ancient tree is in a safe place. 'It is very unusual to see the felling of an oak tree of this size and age. 'Legally protected status for trees like the Whitewebbs Oak is long overdue. 'This issue has widespread public support and is an open goal for the government to act upon.' 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, 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 in September 2023. The trial of the two men accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree is due to take place later this month in Newcastle Crown Court. The Woodland Trust cited support for its Living Legends petition that was handed to Downing Street with 100,000 signatures in November and the Heritage Trees Private Members Bill, which was introduced in the House of Lords by Baroness Young in 2023. The legislation proposes the introduction of a list of nationally important heritage trees and a preservation order that could be used to promote the protection of ancient and important trees. Oak trees are valuable for UK wildlife with the ability to support more than 2,300 species as sequestering planet-heating carbon from the atmosphere.
