Chair of the Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens Sue Price with Kensington Gardens Park Manager Andy Williams, admiring the restored Elfin Oak. Image: Royal Parks
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.
Amazing how a tree stump has brought joy to so many over almost 100 years. Image: Royal Parks
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.
