Birmingham’s leading environmentalist has given an insight into why the cutting down of an ancient oak in north London has caused such a widespread furore.
Chris Millward, the co-founder of Team4Nature and conservation manager at Bibbey’s Wild Farms, said people local to the oak were experiencing a deep sense of loss connected to “biophilia” – the human psyche’s inbuilt connection to nature.
The pedunculate oak, estimated to be about 500 years old, was discovered by council workers near a Toby Carvery pub in Enfield.
It was reportedly felled on health and safety grounds by Mitchel & Butlers plc, which owns Toby Carvery, after it said it was told the tree was dead.
The local authority has now placed an emergency tree preservation order on what remains of the tree, which has a 6m (20ft) girth and was listed on the Woodland Trust’s ancient tree inventory.
The chopping down of the oak, which has been reported to police, has sparked fury from many, including Benny Hawksbee, a member of the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, who told the BBC : “The tree belonged to Enfield and to our national heritage – I am devastated.”
There were many other comments WM News, which is a wholesome family-friendly news organ, couldn’t publish.
‘Biophilia’
Mr Millward explained why the felling of this tree had hit people on a deeper level than they might initially understand.
“The widespread uproar that this incident has sparked can no longer be simply dismissed by use of the term ‘tree-huggers,’” said Chris.
“This passionate response to the destruction of the natural world arises from biophilia which literally means ‘love of life.’ This is our born connection with the rest of nature.
“There is now a mountain of evidence that shows how critical biodiversity is, not only to our immediate happiness, health and wellbeing but also to our survival as a species. It is now critical that we live in harmony with the rest of life on earth.”
Chris added: “After giving so much to society for 500 years, this ancient oak deserved far better treatment. It certainly warranted a full health examination and report to advise on the minimum surgery required to preserve this great veteran.
“Two-thousand three-hundred wildlife species are associated with oak trees in the UK and this is the web of life upon which we all depend.”
