Forestry Commission Report Reveals Healthy 500-Year-Old Oak Wrongly Felled by Toby Carvery
A comprehensive report from the Forestry Commission has definitively concluded that a 500-year-old oak tree, controversially cut down by a Toby Carvery restaurant in Enfield, north London, was in fact healthy and showed no signs of major tree diseases. This finding directly contradicts the initial justification provided by the restaurant's owners, Mitchells & Butlers, who had claimed contractors acted on expert advice that the ancient tree was dying and posed a public risk.
Contradictory Claims and Council Inspection
The popular chain restaurant faced a furious public backlash in April 2025 after felling the ancient oak, which had stood on the edge of Whitewebbs Park for over five centuries. At the time, Mitchells & Butlers asserted that contractors had chopped down the tree based on assessments deeming it a hazard. However, Enfield Council, which leases the land to the company, later disclosed that its own inspection in December 2024 had found the oak to be healthy and not a risk.
The newly released Forestry Commission report corroborates the council's assessment, noting the trunk was largely intact aside from a cavity that showed evidence of wildlife habitation. The reviewing panel determined that issuing an advisory letter to Mitchells & Butlers was the most suitable response, as no offence had been committed under the Forestry Act. Despite this, the backlash has intensified, with Enfield Council initiating eviction proceedings against the restaurant's owners for what it describes as 'serious breaches of their lease'.
Historical Significance and Ecological Value
The ancient oak, sometimes known as the Guy Fawkes Oak, had witnessed pivotal historical events including the Gunpowder Plot, the Industrial Revolution, and two World Wars. Its loss has been mourned as an irreplaceable part of Enfield's natural heritage. Dr Ed Pyne, senior conservation adviser at the Woodland Trust, remarked that while the tree was 'very much alive', it now has a 'less than one per cent' chance of survival following the felling.
Russell Miller, a campaigner for the local community group Guardians of Whitewebbs, emphasised the tree's immense ecological value, claiming it was 'worth 1,000 Sycamore Gaps', referencing the famous 120-year-old sycamore illegally felled in Northumberland in 2023. Miller explained that the comparison helps illustrate the scale of destruction, noting the oak's age and significance far exceeded that of the younger Sycamore Gap tree. He previously estimated the oak's value at around £1 million and has called on the Metropolitan Police to launch a criminal investigation into the incident.
Legal and Community Repercussions
Enfield Council has taken firm action in response to the felling. Councillor Tim Leaver, Deputy Leader of Enfield Council, condemned the act as 'reckless' and stated it 'shocked and angered our entire community'. The council has served a formal Section 146 notice on Mitchells & Butlers and commenced forfeiture proceedings due to the company's failure to engage meaningfully or make reparations. Leaver demanded a public apology, financial compensation for the irreversible damage, and reimbursement for the council's incurred costs, asserting that 'the people of Enfield deserve accountability'.
While Enfield Council reported a case of criminal damage to the Metropolitan Police at the time of the felling, it is understood the force has deemed it a civil matter. A spokesperson for Toby Carvery declined to comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings. The Daily Mail has approached the Metropolitan Police for further comment, as the community continues to seek justice for the loss of this centuries-old natural landmark.
