B1271 words1:46News Report American AccentPublished Jun 10, 2026 · Updated Jun 10, 2026

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The UK restaurant chain Toby Carvery has agreed to pay for the planting of a new orchard.

This decision came after the company used a chainsaw to cut down a 500-year-old oak tree without permission.

The ancient tree stood next to a Toby Carvery car park in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, north London.

The incident happened in April last year and caused widespread public outrage across the country.

Many people were angry because the tree had been part of the local environment for centuries.

The issue was even discussed in parliament, which shows how seriously people took the environmental damage.

Enfield council, which owns the land, started legal action against the restaurant chain earlier this year.

The council described the cutting as a reckless act that caused huge damage to the ancient tree.

Officials said the chainsaw work had significantly reduced the tree's expected lifespan.

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The company that runs Toby Carvery, Mitchells and Butler Retail, has now settled the legal dispute.

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As part of the agreement, the company will pay to restore a lost orchard in the Enfield area.

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It will also cover the council's legal costs and pay for treatment of the remaining parts of the oak tree.

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However, tree experts say the ancient tree has very little chance of surviving because of the serious damage.

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In a joint statement, the company sincerely apologised for the upset that the felling had caused.

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Mitchells and Butler Retail has always said that cutting the tree was necessary for safety reasons because the oak was dying.

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However, this claim has been disputed by several tree experts who examined the ancient tree before the incident.

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Toby Carvery to pay for orchard planting after causing outrage by felling 500-year-old oak

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