Enfield Council have begun the forfeiture proceedings for serious breaches of their lease to Mitchells and Butlers, hospitality giant and owner of Toby Carvery.
While the tree felling took place in April last year, Mitchells and Butlers (M&B), who also own over 1,700 other hospitality companies such as All Bar One and Miller & Carter, have only recently been issued an eviction notice. This is for criminal damage and their ‘serious breach of the lease’ from Enfield Council. Toby Carvery has been occupying Whitewebbs House for their Enfield restaurant.
Last year, M&B defended the felling because “the split and dead wood posed a serious health and safety risk” but have also apologised for the tree felling.
The felled oak tree at Whitewebbs Park, January 2026
Authorities report otherwise; in 2024 a team of experts from Enfield Council said the tree was healthy and posed no risk to the neighbouring car park and its users. Additionally, tree valuer, Russell Miller, reportedly told BBC News that the Enfield oak was worth £1 million and was “much older and more valuable” than the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, which was illegally felled in 2023, resulting in the culprits currently remaining in jail serving their sentences of over 4 years each.
The trial relating to the Enfield oak tree is expected to take place late this year or early next year, a spokesperson for Toby Carvery tells City News “There will be no further comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.”
Community backlash
On the edge of the Enfield Toby Carvery carpark sits the ancient tree. A year ago, the tree was a home to thousands of species of birds, bats and bugs. Now, it is a boarded away stump, surrounded by a new wooden fence which is now already pushed over in one area.
Whitewebbs Park, January 2026
On the matter of the felled oak, Sean Wilkinson, Chair of Friends of Whitewebbs, tells me “we need to protect them. The ancient oaks are wonderful – not only just because of their history but what they contribute to the biodiversity of the landscape.”
“Cutting down a 500 year old tree is a very stupid thing to do. It just cannot be replaced – or not within our lifetime.”
John West, chair of The Enfield Society tells me “Enfield Councils own arboricultural team looked at the tree and were satisfied there was no disease. These days, you’ve got X-ray machines that actually look inside the tree.”
“So, really, there’s not a lot of excuses for taking it down.”
The value of the tree
The tree was around 500 years old and was of huge ecological and historical value.
A tree of this size and specimen was expected to have been habitat to around 2,000 species, including birds, bats, fungi and more.
The tree was nicknamed the “Guy Fawkes tree” because it is believed to have co-existed with Guy Fawkes and it’s proximity to Whitewebbs House, where it is suspected Guy Fawkes may have conspired the infamous Gunpowder Plot in 1605.
While this nickname cannot be fully verified – it testifies to the great age of the oak tree and sentimental reputation amongst the community of Enfield.
There is some hope amongst locals in Enfield that the tree may regrown, but it will be a long process.
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HeadlineEnfield Toby Carvery faces eviction after felling 500 year old oak tree
Short HeadlineAncient oak wrongly cut down: Toby Carvery now face eviction from Enfield
StandfirstEnfield Council recently revealed they have began legal action against Toby Carvery owners
Enfield Council have begun the forfeiture proceedings for serious breaches of their lease to Mitchells and Butlers, hospitality giant and owner of Toby Carvery.
While the tree felling took place in April last year, Mitchells and Butlers (M&B), who also own over 1,700 other hospitality companies such as All Bar One and Miller & Carter, have only recently been issued an eviction notice. This is for criminal damage and their ‘serious breach of the lease’ from Enfield Council. Toby Carvery has been occupying Whitewebbs House for their Enfield restaurant.
Last year, M&B defended the felling because “the split and dead wood posed a serious health and safety risk” but have also apologised for the tree felling.
The felled oak tree at Whitewebbs Park, January 2026
Authorities report otherwise; in 2024 a team of experts from Enfield Council said the tree was healthy and posed no risk to the neighbouring car park and its users. Additionally, tree valuer, Russell Miller, reportedly told BBC News that the Enfield oak was worth £1 million and was “much older and more valuable” than the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, which was illegally felled in 2023, resulting in the culprits currently remaining in jail serving their sentences of over 4 years each.
The trial relating to the Enfield oak tree is expected to take place late this year or early next year, a spokesperson for Toby Carvery tells City News “There will be no further comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.”
Community backlash
On the edge of the Enfield Toby Carvery carpark sits the ancient tree. A year ago, the tree was a home to thousands of species of birds, bats and bugs. Now, it is a boarded away stump, surrounded by a new wooden fence which is now already pushed over in one area.
Whitewebbs Park, January 2026
On the matter of the felled oak, Sean Wilkinson, Chair of Friends of Whitewebbs, tells me “we need to protect them. The ancient oaks are wonderful – not only just because of their history but what they contribute to the biodiversity of the landscape.”
“Cutting down a 500 year old tree is a very stupid thing to do. It just cannot be replaced – or not within our lifetime.”
John West, chair of The Enfield Society tells me “Enfield Councils own arboricultural team looked at the tree and were satisfied there was no disease. These days, you’ve got X-ray machines that actually look inside the tree.”
“So, really, there’s not a lot of excuses for taking it down.”
The value of the tree
The tree was around 500 years old and was of huge ecological and historical value.
A tree of this size and specimen was expected to have been habitat to around 2,000 species, including birds, bats, fungi and more.
The tree was nicknamed the “Guy Fawkes tree” because it is believed to have co-existed with Guy Fawkes and it’s proximity to Whitewebbs House, where it is suspected Guy Fawkes may have conspired the infamous Gunpowder Plot in 1605.
While this nickname cannot be fully verified – it testifies to the great age of the oak tree and sentimental reputation amongst the community of Enfield.
There is some hope amongst locals in Enfield that the tree may regrown, but it will be a long process.
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