The move follows outrage sparked by Toby Carvery’s decision this month to fell an ancient oak tree without permission from the council

Save Whitewebbs oak tree protest (credit Mark Sowden) — A protest at the felled Whitwebbs oak tree last weekend (credit Mark Sowden)

Enfield Council has said it will consider issuing tree preservation orders “where appropriate” across the whole of Whitewebbs Park – in response to a petition signed by nearly 40,000 people.

The move follows the outrage sparked by Toby Carvery’s decision this month to fell an ancient oak tree without permission from the council, despite leasing Whitewebbs House and part of the adjacent woodland directly from the civic centre.

The council hadn’t issued a tree preservation order (TPO) for the tree, one of the oldest in the borough, because it previously didn’t think it necessary to protect trees on its own freehold land.

But after saying it would consider legal action against Mitchells and Butlers, the pub chain that runs Toby Carvery, the council has also now said it is looking into issuing more TPOs.

A spokesperson said: “The council has proactively issued an emergency six-month TPO covering the entire site which is currently leased to Toby Carvery.

“The six-month period provides an opportunity for the council to carry out a detailed survey of the site, with the intention of issuing permanent, dedicated TPOs where appropriate. Officers will also consider whether it is both justified and proportionate to extend the survey work into the wider Whitewebbs Park.

“Toby Carvery commissioned and appointed a contractor to fell the ancient tree on site without permission. Appropriate council resources are being allocated to the ongoing investigation.”

The destruction of the 450-year-old pedunculate oak by Toby Carvery saw widespread anger directed at the pub chain, which falsely claimed the tree was dead before later issuing an apology over “the upset caused”. The Woodland Trust listed it as one of the 100 largest oaks in London and had recently been assessed as being in good health.

The Change.org petition launched by the Guardians of Whitewebbs campaign group called on the council to go further in its protections of veteran and ancient trees across the park. Now signed by more than 38,000 people, it states: “While it is too late for the Whitewebbs oak, other trees nearby can be protected from future interference and felling.

“We are calling on the council to perform an expedited survey of all trees in Whitewebbs Park with the object of making individual and group tree preservation orders for all suitable candidates.”

Last weekend, around 150 people staged a protest against Toby Carvery at the site of the felled tree, which sits on the edge of the restaurant’s car park.

The demonstration also included an ecology walk of the area set to be leased by the council to Tottenham Hotspur for its women’s and girls’ academy, a song sung by Sayuri Kamiya called Oak Time, and a speech by Whitewebbs councillor Hannah Dyson

Sam Gracie Tillbrook, from the Guardians of Whitewebbs, said: “It was a beautiful event, which brought everyone together; it symbolises the community’s love of nature, and its wish to protect it.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s controversial plans for Whitewebbs Park are still subject to review by City Hall, with London mayor Sadiq Khan holding the power to overturn the council’s decision. The planning committee’s February decision was formally referred to the mayor two weeks ago.

In response to the felling of the Whitewebbs oak, a Tottenham Hotspur spokesperson said: “The tree and the decision to fell it has no connection to the club as the tree sits outside of our lease demise for our proposed women’s and girls’ training centre and academy.”

While there was speculation the tree felling could have been connected to a new access road through Whitewebbs Wood, councillors voted to ditch this aspect of the plans in February. The rejected access road was planned to connect to the Toby Carvery car park around 40 metres from the felled tree.

To sign the Whitewebbs oak tree petition:
Visit change.org/p/justice-for-the-whitewebbs-oak-0a72e3de-f66e-440a-a9e4-a0dfb7f0513c

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