Enfield Council has initiated eviction proceedings against a Toby Carvery restaurant in north London after the partial felling of an oak tree believed to be up to 500 years old. The stump of the tree, surrounded by fallen branches, was discovered by council workers in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, last April.
The council described the felling as a reckless act that caused huge damage to the tree and cut its expected lifespan. Ecology expert Russell Miller called it 'the worst example I’ve ever seen of inappropriate tree surgery' and said the tree could have lived another hundred years.
The Woodland Trust noted that the tree, measuring six metres in girth, was around 450 to 500 years old and considered more ecologically significant than the Sycamore Gap tree, whose illegal felling earlier this year stirred national outrage and led to prison sentences for the offenders.
Deputy council leader Tim Leaver stated that the destruction 'shocked and angered our entire community' and that the tree, sometimes known as the Guy Fawkes Oak, was an irreplaceable part of Enfield's natural heritage. He called for a public apology and financial reparations from the restaurant's owner, Mitchells & Butlers.
Mitchells & Butlers declined to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings. The council has accused the company of serious breaches of their lease and failing to engage meaningfully or make reparations.
