The Guy Fawkes Oak, once among London's largest oak trees, was cut down due to safety concerns. Enfield Council has called for a police investigation following its felling on April 3 by contractors for Mitchells & Butlers Retail. The tree was considered to host thousands of species, making its ecological value significant. While the company argued the decision was made to safeguard public health, experts lamented its loss, stating it could have survived for another century. Locals expressed their sorrow for the beloved tree, viewing its removal as a deep loss for future generations.
Lawrence-Thor Stephen stated that the tree had immense ecological value, likening its removal to losing something precious for future generations— "It feels like something has been taken away from us...".
A representative from Toby Carvery explained that the felling was necessary for safety, stating they "took every necessary measure to ensure all legal requirements were met...".
Ecology expert Russell Miller criticized the decision, saying, "the tree could have lived for another century or more" and described the felling as "the worst example I've ever seen of inappropriate tree removal."
Mitchells & Butlers expressed regret to locals, with a spokesperson saying they "did the decent thing" by removing a tree deemed a safety hazard.
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