Residents in a section of east London are encouraged to provide CCTV and doorbell camera recordings following a series of tree assaults.
The vandalism affecting Hackney’s street trees includes incidents where silver birches have been snapped or had their bark removed, a process that can be lethal for the trees.
Mark Westcott, a long-time resident of the borough, expressed his outrage to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), stating he had reported multiple incidents and found this “violence against the community” distressing.
Hackney Council announced it is collaborating with police to address the vandalism, which includes increasing patrols and collecting feedback from residents.
This recent wave of destruction follows the vandalization of over 60 trees, including newly planted varieties, throughout Hackney in 2022.
Mr. Westcott shared his sorrow, remarking, “It’s heartbreaking to witness the silver birches reach maturity only to find them being ring-barked… the perpetrator is focusing on younger trees that can be easily snapped.”
He added, “Although some consider this a ‘victimless crime’, the reality is that the true victim is the London Borough of Hackney.”
Ring-barking, or girdling, refers to the significant or complete removal of bark around the trunk or branches of a tree, which can ultimately lead to its death.
The affected areas lie within the Cazenove ward, where the neighborhoods of Stoke Newington, Upper Clapton, and Stamford Hill converge.
Residents have voiced their concerns to the council, labeling the vandalism as both “aggressive” and “sophisticated.”
Mr. Westcott speculated that the individual or individuals responsible for the tree attacks are avoiding detection by targeting areas lacking CCTV surveillance in a “persistent assault.”
Hackney Mayor Caroline Woodley, who previously managed families, parks, and leisure before being elected, commented: “The vandalism of young trees can be severely detrimental, especially during their crucial early growth stages.”
She noted that deploying CCTV in the area would require additional financial resources or a reallocation of funds from other priorities.
“We are assisting the police with their investigation to identify those responsible, which includes conducting extra patrols in the vicinity,” she added.
Residents are strongly encouraged to report any incidents of tree vandalism to the council.
Hackney Downs ward’s Green councillor, Alastair Binnie-Lubbock, emphasized the importance of community unity in ensuring special protection for the trees.
The Metropolitan Police informed the LDRS that while they have received reports of such incidents, no suspects have been identified as of yet.
