Mighty oaks in Holland Park have been uprooted in a huge operation to ensure their future.

Workers at Kensington's central park helped scoop 13 red oak trees out of the soil by the playing fields. The trees, which were given to the park by a mystery member of the Friends of Holland Park, are being moved to help them grow to full maturity.

They had been planted in a row but had grown too close together.

Now every other specimen must be replanted in a facing row to enable their boughs to reach their full potential.  

A huge lorry descended on the open space to tear at the soil beneath them and transport the trees, complete with root ball, to a new location. The operation
cost s3,000.

A spokeswoman for Kensington and Chelsea Council, which controls the park, explained: "The transplanted trees will form a new row. A hedge, including hawthorne and field maple, will be planted between them. We hope it will encourage insects to breed there, attracting bats and birds."