Enfield oak tree felled by Toby Carvery ‘had 50-year life expectancy’

An ancient oak felled in a north London park by Toby Carvery’s owners was classified last year as a “fine specimen” with a life expectancy of at least 50 years, planning documents show.

Pub chain Mitchells & Butlers said on Tuesday it was responsible for chopping down the 500-year-old tree “to protect our employees and guests as well as the wider general public”.

An Enfield Council planning document from March 2024 found the pedunculate oak, on the edge of Whitewebbs Park, had high ecological and landscape value.

The council said it had reported the felling as criminal damage to the Met Police, which is understood to have closed its inquiry, deeming it a civil matter.

The report, based on a November 2023 inspection, also stated the tree was in “moderate good” condition and recommended a “light reduction of the upper crown on [the] north side”.

Initially, a source for Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) said on Tuesday that it approved the cutting down of the oak after being told the tree was dead.

In an official statement hours later, M&B stated it had received advice from contractors, who said “the split and dead wood posed a serious health and safety risk”.

It subsequently removed this statement in a further update, but maintained the company “took necessary measures to ensure any legal requirements were met”.

The BBC has asked M&B for information about the contractor that cut down the tree. The company has not done so and has also declined the BBC’s request for an interview.

Dr Ed Pyne, senior conservation advisor for trees at the Woodland Trust, said of the felling of the oak: “I couldn’t quite believe it, to be honest.

“I’ve been working for trees in various capacities now as an arborist, as an academic for close to 14 years and in all that time I don’t think I’ve seen a tree felling as shocking as this.”

Ergin Erbil, leader of Enfield Council, branded it “an outrage” and said the council was “looking at all legal options at the moment”.

The tree, with a girth of 6m (20ft), was a nationally significant pedunculate oak listed on the Woodland Trust’s ancient tree inventory.

It comes just two days after a report from the charity Tree Council and researchers Forest Research that warns trees are only indirectly protected, with some “significant legal gaps”.

It recommends the development of a “robust and effective system” to ensure they are safeguarded.

The Enfield oak was worth £1m, according to tree valuer Russell Miller, who made his estimate using the Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees system.

Mr Miller said it was “much older and much more valuable” than the Sycamore Gap tree cut down in Northumberland in 2023.

He added: “This tree is designated… as an irreplaceable habitat because it’s got decay features and habitats within it that you cannot replace within hundreds of years.

“In addition to the sorts of species that people are familiar with, like bats and owls that live in these trees, you’ve got thousands of species of invertebrate.

“You’ve got lots of different niches for lots of different species inside the tree, and that’s why they’re so special.”

A spokesperson for M&B said: “The tree was cut back after we were advised that it caused a serious health and safety risk.

“Upon further inspection, our specialist arboriculture contractors made the assessment that the split and dead wood posed a serious health and safety risk and advised that the tree was unsafe and should be removed.

“We are grateful to our expert contractors for warning us of this hazard so swiftly, allowing us to act before anyone was harmed.”