A community campaign group has called for a criminal investigation into the felling of an ancient oak tree in Enfield, after a new report by the Forestry Commission found the tree was alive and healthy.
The Guardians of Whitewebbs claim the investigation’s findings suggest the felling was criminal damage.
The 500-year-old tree, which is believed to have been standing at the time of the gunpowder plot, showed no signs of major disease when it was cut down beside a Toby Carvery restaurant in Whitewebbs Park last year.
Site inspections and aerial photography also revealed the tree posed no health and safety risk in the car park or other target areas around the restaurant.
Mitchell and Butlers, who own Toby Carvery, originally said contractors had cut down the oak on those grounds.
Caroline Day, committee member of the Guardians of Whitewebbs, said: “None of the facts have changed.
“The only thing that’s changed in light of this report is the confirmation by more than one forestry commission inspector that the tree was fully healthy and alive when it was felled.
“We should see action against the contractors who have been inaccurate at best. We need a criminal investigation.”
Enfield Council said it had reported a case of criminal damage to the Metropolitan Police last April at the time of the felling.
They were told by the police that it was not a criminal matter but a civil one.
Day claimed the police were reluctant to investigate as a Tree Protection Order (TPO) was not on the tree.
A TPO is a legal document created by councils to protect specific trees from being cut down, uprooted, or otherwise damaged without written permission.
Pointing to the Sycamore Gap tree, which was illegally felled in 2023, Day said: “That [tree] didn’t have a TPO either and that resulted in a jail sentence because it was criminal damage. [In this case] we don’t know who the unnamed contractors are, and we’d like them identified.”
The council has since begun forfeiture proceedings and is aiming to evict the restaurant over what it described as serious breaches of the lease.
A spokesperson for Toby Carvery said: “We are unable to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.”
This comes as the Guardians of Whitewebbs were granted permission to proceed with a judicial review against Enfield Council earlier this month. The review could take place as soon as April.
This will be the second legal challenge the group has brought against the council, in their attempts to block Tottenham Hotspur from building an elite women’s training academy next to its 17-pitch men’s training centre.
“We’re really delighted with that permission to proceed, because this could be our last chance to save the park from inappropriate development,” said Day.
“We know that the odds may be stacked against us, but we have such a determined group.
“[The park] is so special in terms of the wildlife that’s there. There are 10 species of bat that have been recorded on site, there are nationally scarce invertebrate species, there’s ancient woodland.
“It’s basically the Richmond Park of North London. It’s a real jewel and it’s just being given away.”
An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “Enfield Council is confident that proper legal processes and procedures have been followed in the determination of the planning application.
“We will vigorously defend the judicial review.
“The proposed development of part of Whitewebbs Park is set to bring significant benefits to the local community including the protection and enhancement of the park and woods, further investment in a new on-site café, toilets and other facilities as well as preserving open public access to more than 80% of the park for all residents.”
The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.
Featured image credit: Sam Gracie-Tillbrook via the Guardians of Whitewebbs
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