Elfin Oak

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The Elfin Oak is a 900-year-old tree stump in Kensington Gardens in London, carved and painted to look as though elves, gnomes and small animals are living in its bark.

The hollow log originally came from Richmond Park, and was moved to Kensington Gardens in 1928 as part of George Lansbury's scheme of public improvements in London. Over the next two years the illustrator Ivor Innes carved the figures of the "Little People" into it. These included Wookey the witch, with her three jars of health, wealth and happiness, Huckleberry the gnome, carrying a bag of berries up the Gnomes' Stairway to the banquet within Bark Hall, and Grumples and Groodles the Elves being awakened by Brownie, Dinkie, Rumplelocks and Hereandthere stealing eggs from the crows' nest.

The comedian Spike Milligan was a lifelong fan of the Oak, and in 1996 he led a successful campaign to have it restored. In 1997 Heritage Minister Tony Banks declared it a Grade II listed building.

The inside cover of Pink Floyd's album Ummagumma features a picture of David Gilmour in front of the Elfin Oak.