Islington Council has appealed for information after at least a dozen trees were vandalised on residential streets in the Nags Head area near Holloway Road.
The acts of vandalism, which took place over the past month, have left slash marks on some trees, while others have had their bark completely ripped off.
Islington Council sent letters to residents on the surrounding streets last week asking for information about the incidents.
The letter said: “This is criminal damage, vandalism and antisocial behavior.
“Islington Council is taking this matter very seriously and is working in partnership with the police to confirm who is responsible, and will support them in seeking a prosecution for those found guilty of damaging council trees.”
The trees will not be removed as they are deemed to be safe for the time being, but they will be observed to make sure that they do not die.
Pat Richardson, a tree officer for Islington council said: “It’s just a random act by somebody with a knife or a dog just doing it because they can. It’s quite bizarre.
“It may even be a case of them not realizing of the damage that they are doing. They may just think it’s a tree, it will grow back, what’s the problem? Or it may be people doing it out of boredom or spite.
“We just want any help we can get of the local community who might have an idea of who is doing this.”
A previous attack on an Islington tree was noted in Thornhill Bridge Community Gardens near Caledonian Road on 6 February, where a man was spotted pouring weed killer into holes he had drilled into a poplar tree.
