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Sycamore Gap: Two men cut down famous tree in UK
Two men have been convicted of intentionally felling the iconic maple tree in Sycamore Gap. The tree, part of Hadrian's Wall, is considered a national monument. Judgment announcement follows.
Sycamore Gap: Two men cut down famous tree in UK
In a remarkable case of vandalism, two men in northern England have been convicted of deliberately felling a famous plane tree. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were each found guilty of two counts of criminal damage, relating to both the tree and Hadrian's Wall on which the tree fell. The verdict was passed by a Newcastle court and sentencing will take place on July 15.
The historical context of the tree
The tree had stood as a sentinel on Hadrian's Wall, a wall built by the Romans in Britain, for over 200 years until it was deliberately felled in September 2023 - an act authorities described as "vandalism." The sycamore tree, which stands in Northumberland National Park, became world famous after its appearance in the 1991 blockbuster film “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves” starring Kevin Costner.
Details of the procedure
The tree, located at a place called “Sycamore Gap,” was located right next to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hadrian’s Wall, which was built around 1,900 years ago to secure the far northwestern border of the Roman Empire. During the trial, prosecutor Richard Wright KC explained that the felling was an act of “senseless vandalism”. He described how the two men drove 30 miles (48 kilometers) at night to reach the tree before one cut it down while the other filmed it.
Damage and consequences
The jury found that Graham and Carruthers caused £622,191 (approximately $826,000) of damage to the tree and £1,144 (approximately $1,500) to Hadrian's Wall. Witnesses reported that the two men sometimes worked together and had experience cutting down large trees. They were originally “best friends”, but the court heard their relationship had now deteriorated and their friendship had “broken”.
Statements and future of the case
During his testimony, Graham told the court that Carruthers informed him about the tree, which he described as "the most famous tree in the world," and discussed cutting it down. This is a developing story and more updates will follow.