I refer to your article ‘Poisoned Trees’ (Watford Observer, Friday, September 23).

As a consulting arborist I was asked by Three Rivers District Council to inspect the affected trees.

They are located alongside the footpath between Wadham Road and Cherry Hollow. One tree is an English Oak, the other two are Sycamores.

READ MORE: Poison drilled into trees in suspected attempt to kill them off.

My investigation was brief but enabled me to conclude that the trees have been deliberately poisoned.

Holes have been bored into the base of all three trees. These were filled with herbicide which was also scattered at the base of all three trees. It is clear that the intent was to kill the trees.

In the first instance I would ask why this anonymous person, who is in all probability a local resident, would want to kill a natural organism that provides so many quantifiable benefits.

Trees provide, among other things, aesthetic beauty, carbon absorption and sequestration, pollution interception, storm water mitigation and oxygen.

They also contribute positively to property values and scientific studies have concluded that they can increase real estate values by 15-20 per cent.

This perpetrator of a crime against nature has contributed to a lessening of his property value and also that of all the surrounding homeowners. Well done, a very clever move.

Secondly, the oak tree is statutorily protected by way of properly made and confirmed tree preservation order.

I note your reporter’s observation that the fine for an action leading to the death of a tree can be up to £20,000. In fact the fine can be considerably more than this.

Tree preservation orders are statutory legislation made under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990. They are administered under a further statutory instrument, namely ‘The Town & Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012. The actual offence of destruction of a protected tree is found within the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 at Section 210(i)(a).

The act states that if a person, in contravention of a tree preservation order, cuts down, uproots or wilfully destroys a tree he shall be guilty of an offence.

Such an offence is a criminal act and an ‘either way offence’ which can be tried in a crown court.

The arbitrary fine for such an offence is £20,000 or twice the value of the tree, with an associated criminal record. If the case is heard in crown court the fine can be unlimited.

So ultimately, this foolish person has potentially reduced the value of his own and his neighbour’s properties and exposed himself to the risk of a criminal prosecution with an associated criminal record and an unlimited fine.

The court will also have regard to any financial benefit which has occurred or appears likely to accrue to the perpetrator in consequence of the offence.

My question is, was it worth it?

SA Lanigan, ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist