London's most magical tree — certainly its most magical dead tree — has just been restored.
It was in 1928 when the hollow stump of a 900-year-old oak tree was moved from Richmond Park to Kensington Gardens, where the children's illustrator Ivor Innes slowly yet skilfully carved a village of magical folk into the wood: elves, fairies, goblins, witches and forest animals.
Two years later, the Elfin Oak was unveiled on 25 July in 1930, and has delighted scores of children ever since — not to mention many adults, including Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, who was photographed in front of it for the inside cover of the Ummagumma album. Its cultural cache was boosted by a children's book co-created with his wide Elsie, called called The Elfin Oak of Kensington Gardens, which was published on the same year the tree was unveiled, and began:
The Wee Fairy Folk have come to London Town. Have you seen their home in the old, old oak in Kensington Gardens?
The tree has taken its fair share of weathering, both by the natural elements, and vandals. The latter prompted park keepers to enshroud the tree in an old raven's cage from London Zoo. Needless to say then, it's been through a few restorations. In the mid 1960s — and again some 30 years later — the comedian Spike Milligan lobbied to save and renovate it, as documented in the BBC's 2021 radio drama, Spike and the Elfin Oak. (Milligan quipped that his efforts the first time around were unveiled "in a blaze of indifference!")
In 1983, Norman Frederick Cook, a civil servant in charge of some 170 statues around London, took it on himself to repair and re-paint the figures on the tree. "At first we were going to put the job out to contract," Cook later told the London Standard, "but it was very difficult finding a specialist... I told my boss I was an amateur sculptor and said if I had the time, I would love to do it myself."
The Elfin Oak gained Grade II listed status in 1997.
Now, the Royal Parks charity has unveiled the result of conservation repairs, carried out by DBR Conservation, in which the tree's 97 figurines — including Wookey (the little old witch), Huckleberry (gnome) and Harebell (fairy) — have been expertly and sensitively restored, once more vibrant, glossy and rendered in intricate detail.
Visibility of the Elfin Oak has also been improved, including the removing of a mesh lining, and a reduction in the number of bars encasing it.
Says Andy Williams, Park Manager for Kensington Gardens: "Kensington Gardens is one of the most magical parks for children and part of its appeal is the Elfin Oak, where elves, witches and owls inhabit a secret world. We are delighted to help restore this much-loved treasure back to its former glory."
Magical, really, how a tree stump has brought so much joy to so many people.
The Elfin Oak is free for all to enjoy. You'll find it by the entrance to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens.
