Enfield Council workers discovered the tree, which measured 6.1 metres around its trunk, surrounded by its severed branches in Whitewebbs Park on April 3.
The council is seeking legal action against Toby Carvery, run by Mitchells & Butlers, which said its expert tree holders assessed the oak as dying and a safety risk to the public.
A petition has since been launched by park conservation group the Guardians of Whitewebbs which has so far received 2,883 signatures, to “prevent similar losses in the park”.
The Guardians said the tree was “one of only 60 similarly ancient English oak (quercus robur) trees in the whole of London”.
The petition added: “We are demanding that the council fully investigate this tragic incident. We are also urgently requesting the protection of the rest of the park’s trees, which includes other ancient and veteran trees.
“As the oak was on council parkland, the private contractors would have needed permission for the works from the council officer.”
The Guardians of Whitewebbs wants the council to commission an independent investigation into what happened,
“This is an appropriate reaction to the loss of a nationally important tree,” they added.
Council leader Cllr Ergin Erbil told this paper that Toby Carvery had “broken the terms of the lease” by not even seeking advice about the condition of the tree.
“Our team of experts checked the tree in December 2024 and found it was healthy and posed no risk to the neighbouring car park and its users,” he said.
“As the land owner we believe this action has broken the terms of the lease, which requires Toby Carvery to maintain and protect the existing landscape.
“They do not appear to have obtained this. The value of the oak was extremely high and the work has left little chance of regrowth.”
Mitchells & Butlers CEO Phil Urban did not comment on the breach when approached by this paper.
However in a letter to residents he said he was “very sorry” for all the anger and upset the incident had caused.
To sign the petition go to www.change.org/p/justice-for-the-whitewebbs-oak
