Dear Guardians,
Thank you so much to everyone who has signed and shared our petition!
We want to keep up the pressure - and you can help us do that - so do
🌳 Write to the Mayor and report a crime (read on!)
We’ve been blown away by the response to this petition. The outpouring of support just goes to demonstrate the value of irreplaceable ancient trees is recognised by so many people up and down the country. The authorities need to do so much more to protect our precious natural heritage.
As you may be aware, a lot has been happening since we first set up this petition. Guardians of Whitewebbs has been working tirelessly, and the felling has received coverage in all national media outlets.
On Sunday 20 April, we staged a protest procession through Whitewebbs Park [https://www.instagram.com/p/DIrr_fmCchK/?img_index=1 and gathered as a community by the stump of the tree to commemorate this once majestic 500 year-old oak. We really appreciate everyone who attended, sung songs [https://www.instagram.com/p/DI1GOhwoffK/ brought placards, gave speeches and took part in our minute of silence. It was a very moving event, broadcast on ITV national news [https://www.instagram.com/p/DIrsdB-iAlw/ and BBC London [https://www.instagram.com/p/DIruO2XChC6/ the same day.
Whilst the owners of Toby Carvery have admitted responsibility, the Metropolitan Police have decided that the felling is a ‘civil matter’. However, it has just been announced that the Forestry Commission has started its own investigation into the incident [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/24/forestry-commission-launches-inquiry-into-london-oak-felled-by-toby-carvery-owner The Commission, which has new powers to sanction unauthorised felling, could impose fines and potentially launch a private prosecution. It is clear that the widespread public outcry has led to this announcement.
The Guardian previously wrote an article [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/17/felled-enfield-oak-tree-spurs-toby-carvery-london which describes the links between Spurs and Mitchells and Butlers, who own the Toby Carvery.
The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, has also made this welcome statement [https://www.enfield.gov.uk/news-and-events/2025/04/leaders-statement-ancient-oak-tree-at-whitewebbs The council is “seeking advice and will take appropriate legal action”. They have stated that if any criminal activity is found during their investigation, they “will not hesitate to report this to the Police again.”
Ian Phillips has made a powerful film “The illegal felling of the Whitewebbs Oak” [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQtpYWWAleo which features Benny Hawksbee, Russell Miller and Melisa Zulu. It also links the issue of the Oak to the broader campaign to save Whitewebbs Park from development by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (Spurs).
We have written to Cllr Ergin Erbil to request that he meets with us. Our demands are the following:
- The council presses the Metropolitan Police to carry out a full criminal investigation of the incident, and exercise their powers to investigate the workers and those who contracted them. Much remains unexplained about the circumstances surrounding the chopping down of one of London’s - and indeed Europe’s - most ecologically valuable trees. Individuals who inflicted similar damage on a much less valuable tree, the Sycamore Gap tree, are shortly to appear in court, facing criminal damage charges.
- That Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) are placed on all notable, veteran and ancient trees in Whitewebbs Park.
207 more trees (many mature, and some veteran) within the park are under threat, due to be destroyed. Spurs has been granted permission by Enfield Council [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/12/dark-day-for-parks-plans-to-build-spurs-academy-on-london-green-space-approved to develop 50% of the grassland area of Whitewebbs Park, adjacent to where the Whitewebbs Oak is situated, for a women’s football academy. The development would have devastating effects on nature, and it would be a huge loss for the community. Please watch our campaign video “Whitewebbs Park - What Tottenham Hotspur and Enfield Council Don’t Want You to Know” if you haven’t already [https://youtu.be/0Y3J56JpU98
Enfield Council has confirmed that a referral of this decision to approve the development has been made to the Greater London Authority and the Government so there’s not much time: please write to the Mayor of London and Secretary of State today, asking that they call-in and refuse this decision! All info about the plans and how to object can be found on our website [https://www.avidbeats.com/guardians-of-whitewebbs We encourage you to write your own personal and emotive messages describing what the Park means to you (they don’t have to be long at all), but there is a template which touches on the more detailed issues if you would prefer to use or get inspired by that.
You can also help win justice for the tree by contacting the Metropolitan Police and calling for a full police investigation [https://www.met.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ Please reference the CAD number 01/7371680/25 when contacting them. Whilst the Forestry Commission investigation is very welcome, the police have more far-reaching powers to bring the perpetrators of this devastating felling to justice.
We also want to reassure you that we will continue working with ancient tree experts to lobby for practical methods to help the Whitewebbs Oak to regrow. The chance of survival is sadly low, due to the high risk of desiccation, however we are determined to do all we can to save this 500 year-old treasure for future generations.
Thank you very much for reading our update, and for your support.
If you would like to receive regular updates and/or join the discussion, please do sign up to our main newsletter and WhatsApp Group/s [], and follow our Instagram.
Solidarity and love,
Guardians of Whitewebbs