500-year-old oak tree cut down near Toby Carvery ‘was healthy and safe’

A Toby Carvery in north London felled an ancient tree next to the restaurant, but experts have now found there was nothing wrong with it.

The restaurant in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, has come under fire after it chopped down the iconic tree without permission.

The oak, thought to be 450 to 500 years old, was felled in April last year after the owner, Mitchells & Butlers, was advised that the tree was dying and posed a risk to the public.

However, now the Forestry Commission has said there was very little evidence that the tree had to be taken down.

A survey last year carried out before the felling described it as a ‘fine specimen,’ and aerial photographs showed none of its branches was hanging over a car park.

The tree showed no sign of major diseases and the trunk was largely intact, with a cavity suggesting wildlife was living inside, according to inspectors.

Mitchells & Butlers, who are leasing the land from the council, initially said they were told the tree posed a ‘serious health and safety risk’ before a contractor carried out the work.

The oak has been reduced to a stump, sparking outrage among locals and campaigners, who likened the incident to the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall.

Dr Ed Pyne, a senior conservation adviser at the Woodland Trust, warned that the chances of it surviving are now ‘so slim’.

He told BBC News: ‘If I had to put like a gut feeling on it, I would say like less than one percent chance.

‘I visited the tree in the aftermath and there was absolutely no doubt in my mind the tree was very much alive.’

Campaigners have demanded a full investigation and protection of other significant trees in the area.

Ed Allnutt, from the Guardians of Whitewebbs group, told Metro last year that the tree was invaluable.

He added: ‘These are incredibly rare she can be home to thousands of species.

‘It was one of the top 100 ancient oaks in London.’

Meanwhile, the deputy leader of Enfield Council, Tim Leaver, said the tree was ‘irreplaceable’ and that the company should apologise.

He said previously: ‘This centuries-old tree, sometimes known as the Guy Fawkes Oak, was an irreplaceable part of Enfield’s natural heritage and was felled without the council’s knowledge or consent, in clear breach of the lease governing the site.’

Two weeks after the felling, Toby Carvery’s chief executive, Phil Urban, insisted the company ‘acted in good faith’ when it greenlit the works.

He continued: ‘Clearly, the felling of a beautiful old tree is a very emotive subject and is not something that any of us would undertake lightly.

‘I can only apologise for all the upset that it has caused.’

Last October, the council reportedly served a notice to the restaurant to start eviction.

Metro has contacted Mitchells & Butlers for a comment.