The felling of the much-loved sycamore at Sycamore Gap, the oak in Enfield and, at a more personal level, of more than 30 trees that were between 50 and 100 years old in a neighbouring garden by a developer over a weekend demonstrates just how weak our tree protection laws are (UK government report calls for taskforce to save England’s historic trees, 16 April). We should have a system of protection like Toronto, Canada, where virtually all trees, public and private, are automatically protected and any felling requires a licence to be obtained. Where felling is permitted, the bylaws also require new trees to be planted and there are penalties of up to C$100,000 (£54,000) if you contravene the law.
Paul Kleiman
Truro, Cornwall
• The felling of an ancient oak in Enfield earlier this month could have been prevented (Spurs contractors judged felled Enfield oak to be ‘fine specimen’, 17 April). Recently a massive oak in our neighbourhood was saved from the chainsaw by half an hour after neighbours acted swiftly with the district council’s officer on hearing rumours that it was to happen.
If you have a tree near you that you feel is significant, it’s worth checking if there’s a tree preservation order on it. We and the very proactive council officer were amazed to find that there was none in this case, when others of questionable value had them in place. Oaks are especially vulnerable to such vandalism.
Linda Marriott
North Hykeham, Lincolnshire
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