[6][11] Berkeley Homes was involved in a dispute with environmental campaigners over the tree; the developer wanted to remove it as part of regeneration work on Woodberry Down estate.

That day, the Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville tweeted an apology for the distress caused, explaining that "the tree is not being felled today", and saying that he had asked for an urgent update, acknowledging that there had not been responses to emails received and the petition.

[15][10][16] On 24 June, protesters delivered the petition to save the tree with 22,000 signatures and an axe made from papier-mâché to the Labour Mayor of Hackney, asking him if he was "prepared to strike the first blow".

It beat nine shortlisted rivals, including runner up, the Grantham oak, whose own encounter with housing planning was referenced in the Woodland Trust's announcement of the Happy Man Tree's win.

[9] The 2020 contest saw double the number of trees nominated by members of the public than in previous years, which Darren Moorcroft, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, attributed to lockdowns causing people to take more note of nature on their doorsteps.

[9][23] In the announcement of the award's winner, Adam Cormack, head of campaigning for the Woodland Trust, acknowledged the Berkeley development's "great work" to provide "important social housing".