Climate News: Illegal felling of 500-year-old tree sparks uproar

An historic oak tree believed to be up to 500 years old has been felled in Enfield without public warning.  

The felling of the Whitewebbs Park tree has evoked a strong reaction from residents and nationwide environmentalists. Hundreds of people gathered on Easter Sunday to hold a commemorative “period of mourning” silence. 

The oak tree was chopped down in early April 2025 by contractors working for Mitchells & Butlers Retail, which owns a nearby Toby Carvery. The local council was not informed of the decision and urged the Metropolitan Police to investigate the felling as “criminal damage”. A spokesperson for the company has defended the action, stating that their “arboriculture contractor” advised it was a “health and safety risk”. 

While there are legal protections for ancient woodland such as Tree Preservation Orders, which face an unlimited fine if broken, groups such as the Woodland Trust and Friends of the Earth UK argue for stronger protections

The loss of the great oak is much more substantial than the obvious. Every tree is a hub of biodiversity, home to worms, moss, fungi, birds, and a plethora of weeds. By cutting one tree, the local ecosystem is greatly affected, particularly as older trees are homes for entire food chains. 

There has been substantial outcry over the incident. While there are legal protections for ancient woodland such as Tree Preservation Orders, which face an unlimited fine if broken, groups such as the Woodland Trust and Friends of the Earth UK argue for stronger protections. Paul Powlesland, co-founder of the Lawyers for Nature group, argued that a “building the same age as this tree would almost certainly be listed”, and that such a building, if demolished, would have a harsher punishment of prison time. 

As climate change worsens, it is especially important to preserve ancient woodlands, not only to store carbon but also to ensure established biodiverse homes remain during a time when they are increasingly sparse. It is, of course, understandable that there has been such an uproar amongst the community, many of whom now hope for legal change to protect heritage trees.