Mike Tims and the new sign erected by the City of London, the Heath’s managers

A TREE lover hugged a willow on Hampstead Heath to stop it being chopped with a chainsaw.

Mike Tims said he was aghast to come across an arborist cutting off a branch last May.

The work was not commissioned by the City of London, the Heath’s guardians, who have now placed a sign warning that unauthorised pruning is against the open space’s byelaws. It has been claimed somebody living close to the Heath had called in the tree surgeons because they believed it was spoiling views.

The tree died a few years ago, but Heath managers regard it as important for bio­diversity, as a home for insects. Mr Tims filmed somebody watching a large branch being cut off.

In the video, he can be heard talking to the man who said he was “paying [the tree surgeon] to do it because it’s an eyesore”.

He then said that the tree was “dangerous” and was “falling”, adding: “Please do me a favour and just let me get on with this.” The City of London’s new sign reads: “Habitat trees are important for the biodiversity of the site. The attempted pruning or felling of trees on Hampstead Heath is a violation of the Heath’s byelaws.”

The ‘Willow of Willow Road’

Mr Tims told the New Journal: “It’s not just a dead tree. It’s the feature of Willow Road. It dominates the landscape and it is the willow of Willow Road, effectively. “There was outrage and astonishment particularly when it transpired it wasn’t the Corporation of London that was cutting it down, it was an individual.”

Another resident whose home looks out onto the tree, Paul Winter, said that at the end of June he witnessed a large branch from the tree fall off and hit his friend.

Mr Winter said: “We were literally walking from the street up past the tree when a large trunk fell on to her. Luckily, it was a glancing blow. But she was quite badly grazed on her right arm and leg and ribs were bruised. “My opinion is that the incident of removing a branch on the opposite side I think might have in some way contributed to this. There was no wind it was just one of those fluke accidents”

He added: “I’ve been living here for over 26 years and at one stage there were three willow trees. “Over a period of time they have died because the ground is too compacted.

“This tree was pruned a couple of years ago, and it was done in a particular way to encourage termites and insects. It’s on common ground. It shouldn’t be up to local residents to decide whether they like it or not. “Regardless of whether I like how many nettles there are, it’s not for me to take action.”

John Beyer, chair of the Heath sub committee of the Heath and Hampstead Society, said he had never come across an incident like this before.

He said: “You shouldn’t take direct action on the Heath. If you see something that needs to be done you need to contact the authorities, which is the City of London.

“That tree was left there so it could be a perch for wildlife. We also support the policy of leaving deadwood standing because you get all the invertebrates living in the tree having a good time chewing it up.”

A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said: “Any attempt to prune or fell a tree by a member of the public on Hampstead Heath is both dangerous and unacceptable and is a violation of our byelaws.”

The New Journal attempted to contact the man in the film but they could not be reached.