My son has just phoned me concerned that a tree in a public space
outside his flat in London has been vandalised. The bark has been
stripped from just above the ground to about five feet up. The trunk is
about 8" in diameter and the tree is about ten feet tall. He's not sure
of the species but is going to try to identify it tonight.

He was asking me whether this definitely means the death of the tree. I
know that with younger trees complete ringing is supposed to be fatal
but wasn't completely sure whether it's so with older trees. I also
found I wasn't sure exactly why removal of the bark is so harmful to the
tree or whether anything can be done to save it.

Any information or suggestions will be much appreciated.

Janet G