MYSTERY surrounds why a maple tree in the grounds of an environmentally-friendly church was destroyed.

The tree, which has stood in the grounds of the United Free Church in Wallwood Road, Leytonstone, for 15 years disappeared last Monday (September 1).

A man living nearby reported seeing what appeared to be professional tree surgeons cutting down and shredding the tree at about 2pm.

Minster Alison Mackay contacted the council in an attempt to find out why one of the six trees in the church's grounds been removed without permission.

But the council's environmental team assured her that no staff had been sent out to do work in the area at the time.

Joyce Dykes, eco-committee chairman at the church, said she was extremely concerned when she was told the tree had been destroyed.

She said: “We were talking in our meeting about tree planting and one of our members informed me that the tree was missing.

“Everyone was quite shocked. I went out to have a look, and when I saw it wasn't there and tried to find out if anybody knew anything about it.

“It's our property – it's on our land. I was horrified at the time. I was thinking 'How could someone do this?' Why would they do it?”

The church won an award for its work to protect the environment and has recently adopted a nearby garden, which the congregation helps to maintain.

The proudly green church also installed solar panels on its roof to improve its carbon footprint.

Reverend Mackay, who has been with the church for eight years, said: “I just want to know who did it and why it's happened.

“I don't think this is a random act of vandalism. It has definitely been professionally removed.”

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