Particle.news
Download on the App Store
12 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Toby Carvery Faces Legal Action Over Felling of 500-Year-Old Oak Tree

Enfield Council accuses the restaurant chain of violating lease terms, while experts highlight the tree's ecological and cultural significance.

Image
A centuries old oak tree in Enfield that has been cut down by a Toby Carvery in Enfield, London.
Image
Image

Overview

  • Mitchells & Butlers, owner of Toby Carvery, felled the ancient oak on April 3, citing health and safety concerns based on contractor advice.
  • Enfield Council asserts the tree was healthy and alleges the felling breached lease terms requiring landscape protection, prompting legal action.
  • The Metropolitan Police closed their investigation, treating the case as a civil matter, while the Forestry Commission is assessing licensing compliance.
  • Experts and environmentalists emphasize the oak's irreplaceable ecological value, likening its loss to the 2023 Sycamore Gap tree incident.
  • Mitchells & Butlers CEO Phil Urban apologized for the distress caused and pledged to tighten safety protocols following public outcry.