Locals have been left ‘devastated’ after a more than 400-year-old oak tree thought to be one of London‘s biggest was chopped down by a Toby Carvery.
The tree, which is believed to have been felled on April 3, was only discovered by Enfield Council workers last week in Whitewebbs Park surrounded by its severed branches and trunk.
With a huge girth of 6.1 metres, the oak tree is thought to be in the capital’s top 100 in terms of its size.
Enfield council members reported the matter to the Metropolitan Police, and a preservation order remains in place on the base of the stump.
But a spokesperson for Mitchells and Butlers, the company that owns Toby Carvery, has now taken responsibility for the felling of the tree which they say was a ‘serious health and safety risk’.
The historic tree sits on land leased by the Enfield Toby Carvery.
The tree, which is believed to have been felled on April 3, was only discovered by Enfield Council workers last week in Whitewebbs Park surrounded by its severed branches and trunk
A statement read: ‘The tree was cut back after we were advised that it caused a serious health and safety risk, and so this was an essential action to protect our employees and guests, to whom we have a duty of care.
‘We took every necessary measure to ensure all legal requirements were met; there was no Tree Preservation Order in place, the tree was not subject to any protections, and it was in fact dead before it was felled. We are grateful to our expert contractors for warning us of this hazard so swiftly, allowing us to act before anyone was harmed.’
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
