Havering Council has revealed that it will carry out an investigation into the “deliberate poisoning” of several trees.
The council said it has had to remove a number of dead trees and wherever possible replace them, incurring extra costs each time.
A spokesperson explained: "These trees, and others that have been targeted, previously showed no other sign of disease and there were no other environmental changes that would have caused their demise.
"The otherwise healthy trees were dying as a result of deliberate poisoning, which is a criminal offence.
"The council will investigate all incidents and anyone found guilty could face prosecution."
A Whitebeam tree, for example, was found by the council with holes drilled into the bottom of its trunk. A London Plane similarly had holes put into the base of its trunk and the tops of the roots.
Holes in both the trees “went around the base of the tree like a ring” and “poison had then been poured into the holes”, the spokesperson said.
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The holes, they added, were meant to ensure that the poison spreads to all parts of the tree.
The council said residents can report issues with trees by visiting portal.havering.gov.uk/treeenquiry-location/.
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