Toby Carvery apologises for chopping down historic tree as it backs down in year-long council row

The owners of Toby Carvery have issued an apology for felling a historic tree at one of the companiy's sites, bringing an end to a year-long legal battle.

Restaurant chain company Mitchells & Butlers ordered the removal of a centuries-old oak at its Whitewebbs location in April last year, sparking the dispute with Enfield Council.

A joint statement from both parties confirmed the matter is now settled, with M&B agreeing to donate to the Enfield Chase Landscape Restoration scheme, described as the capital's most extensive woodland and nature recovery project.

The contribution will support planting and maintaining a thousand trees while restoring a historic orchard along the Ridgeway.

The oak tree, estimated to be some 500 years old and measuring a six metre circumference, was registered on the Woodland Trust's ancient tree inventory as nationally significant.

M&B stated at the time the decision to axe the tree was taken "to protect our employees and guests as well as the wider general public" from potential safety hazards.

However, investigations by both the Forestry Commission and Enfield Council found the tree posed no danger whatsoever.

Their reports concluded the oak was in good health and could have survived for several hundred more years.

A professional tree valuer assessed its worth to be near a staggering £1million.

The removal of the tree provoked widespread outrage across social media, with calls for a boycott of the roast dinner chain, not long after the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap had captured national attention.

Ergin Erbil, who was leading Enfield Council at the time, described the act as an "outrage", while local residents staged a protest at the remaining stump.

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The Woodland Trust declared it had never witnessed "tree felling as shocking as this".

Some campaigners argued the oak held greater significance than the Sycamore Gap tree, noting the Northumberland landmark was only 120 years old by comparison.

Enfield Council initially pursued eviction proceedings against the restaurant, alleging serious lease violations and claiming the tree was removed without its knowledge or permission.

The council had also reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police as criminal damage, though the force determined it to be a civil matter.

The joint statement from both parties read: "We recognise the felling of a well-loved veteran tree within the grounds of the Toby Carvery, Whitewebbs has upset many local people, and we fully understand the strength of feeling this has caused."

M&B offered what it termed a "sincere apology" for the distress caused.

For its part, the council recognised the company had "acted on the recommendation of reputable, professional advisers in taking the steps that it did" when addressing perceived safety concerns.

Both sides stressed the importance of communication on environmental matters going forward.