🌳 Write to the Metropolitan Police to demand a criminal investigation in light of the Forestry Commission Report

🌳 Demand Enfield Council protect all trees in Whitewebbs Wood with a group Tree Protection Order (TPO) 

🌳 Spread the word: eviction is not justice! Whitewebbs House must be preserved as a public asset, and not handed over to Spurs

The Forestry Commission (FSC) has finally been forced, under Freedom of Information requests by the media, to release its report into the Whitewebbs Oak felling. That report concludes, as we have said all along, that this ancient tree was alive and healthy at the time it was chopped down by (still unnamed) contractors. They rejected Mitchells & Butlers claim that the tree was dead or dangerous.

Arboriculturalist Russell Miller from the Guardians of Whitewebbs was interviewed about the report on BBC London, do check out the feature which was headline news on Thursday.

Mitchells and Butlers (who own the Toby Carvery chain) initially claimed that they were given advice by unidentified contractors that the tree was ‘dead’. In defending their actions, they later claimed the Oak was a danger to customers. Neither M&B nor the still unnamed contractor have ever given a satisfactory explanation as to why the tree was said to have been dangerous and the Guardians welcome the FC investigators conclusion that this claim was not true.

Since the Forestry Commission found no evidence of any danger posed by the Oak, the Metropolitan Police must now investigate the crime that was reported to them last April. The Met have consistently failed to mention the words “criminal damage” in any of their statements about the oak even though this was the crime reported to them by Enfield Council. The FC’s conclusions, which are supported by 3 other experienced tree consultants who saw the tree before it was destroyed, cast doubt on the veracity of the claims made by M&B and their contractor.

Unfortunately, there are serious shortcomings in the FC report’s reasoning in deciding that “No breach” of Forestry Commission regulations occurred. Their rationale underpinning this conclusion is, had a lopping and topping exemption been claimed, and if the tree survives then that exemption could apply. However, the report concedes that Mitchells & Butlers did not assert a lopping and topping exemption! Moreover, it also says a lopping and topping is not a recognised legitimate way to manage a veteran lapsed pollard and therefore the exemption should not apply. 

It is almost certain that the tree will perish within two years, a tragic loss of one of our living legends, a tree standing at the time it was believed Guy Fawkes plotted at Whitewebbs House. The loss of irreplaceable habitat is huge and is of national significance.

As outdated as existing tree protection legislation may be, this investigation still should have led to prosecution of those responsible for the felling.

Enfield Council have claimed they are seeking accountability via legal action against the pub chain. Compensation for the loss of our irreplaceable Whitewebbs Oak is welcome. However, it is vital that the contractors who carried out the mutilation of the Oak are publicly named and also face accountability. 

Furthermore, eviction would not be justice. The local community has never called for Toby Carvery to be evicted from Whitewebbs House. This historic building could easily become vacant, privatised and handed over to Spurs, who already have substantial financial connections to the pub chain and an option to take over the lease.