‘Loss for the nation’: Is this historical, felled oak tree London’s Sycamore Gap? | EUROtoday

Police are investigating the felling of a centuries-old oak tree that has “more ecological value than the Sycamore Gap” amid outrage from native residents and conservationists.

Reports have been made to Enfield Council in London earlier this month concerning the “criminal” felling of an historical oak tree in Whitewebbs Wood, an historical woodland within the north of the capital.

Lawrence-Thor Stephen, CEO of London-based tree care firm Thor’s Trees, stated 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The tree is estimated to be as much as 500 years outdated, and Mr Stephen stated that, because of its age, it’s extra ecologically helpful than the roughly 200-year-old Sycamore Gap tree close to Hadrian’s Wall, which was felled in 2023.

“I can’t believe this has happened,” he stated. “This is a loss of a national treasure.”

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An announcement from Ergin Erbil, chief of Enfield Council, stated the felling has been reported to the police and a tree preservation order was put in place to guard it from additional injury.

The tree is a pedunculate oak (quercus robur) with a girth of 6.1m, and it’s formally verified on the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Inventory.

Mr Stephen advised The Independent 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 ancient tree falls, it’s nature that’s wounded – and a community,” he stated.

“But from this, we have the chance to build something better: stronger protections, greater awareness, and a renewed commitment to the trees that quietly support all life around us.

“Let’s make sure this story is not just one of loss but a turning point for action.”

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The three councillors for the Whitewebbs Ward stated in a joint assertion that the tree’s felling is “enormously distressing” and the perpetrators have to be “brought to justice”.

“Crucially, the council also needs to make clear how it will ensure that this is never allowed to happen again,” they added.

Mr Erbil stated in an announcement that whereas the felling occurred on 3 April, the council wasn’t made conscious till final week, finishing up an instantaneous inspection of the positioning.

“We are treating the matter as criminal damage and have reported it to the police,” he stated. “We will work closely with the police as they continue their investigation into this matter.”

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it had obtained a report from Enfield Council.