Men jailed for felling UK's iconic 'Sycamore Gap' tree
The sycamore, estimated to be almost 200 years old, stood at the centre of a dramatic dip in the landscape alongside the historical Hadrian's Wall in northern England, making it a popular spot for photographers, hikers and even marriage proposals.
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were found guilty last month of travelling from their homes in the middle of the night in September 2023 to deliberately cut it down with a chainsaw.
They filmed what prosecutors described as a "moronic mission" on Graham's mobile phone and later bragged about it, before the pair's friendship descended into acrimony as the widespread anger at their actions became clear.
Both had denied any involvement in the felling of the tree, which featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and also damaged part of Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans almost 2000 years ago and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Graham and Carruthers did, however, accept their responsibility when speaking to probation officers, their lawyers said.
Carruthers' lawyer Andrew Gurney described it as "drunken stupidity".
Sentencing them to four years and three months in prison, Judge Christina Lambert told the men they had cut down the tree out of "sheer bravado".
The National Trust, a heritage conservation charity which looks after the site, said last August there were signs of life at the base of the tree, giving hope it might live on.
Last week, the Northumberland National Park said the largest part of the tree would go on display in an installation located not far from where it once stood.
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SBS Australia
a day ago
- SBS Australia
Men jailed for felling UK's iconic Sycamore Gap tree
On a dark and stormy night in September 2023, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers set out with a chainsaw to bring down a tree in the British county of Northumberland. But it wasn't just any tree - it was the Sycamore Gap tree, which stood at the centre of a dramatic dip in the landscape alongside the historic World Heritage Listed Hadrian's Wall in northern England, and estimated to be around 200 years old. The sycamore even featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. "Azeem, the great wood. I am home." Both men were each convicted of two counts of criminal damage in May. The pair have now been jailed by Judge Christina Lambert for what prosecutors called their act of "mindless destruction". "Mr Daniel Graham, Mr Adam Carruthers, I pass the same sentence in respect of you. The sentence is on count one, four years and three months imprisonment." Both denied any involvement in the felling of the tree at first but evidence to the court placed both of them at the scene - which included footage on Graham's mobile phone of a tree being chainsawed in the dead of night. The court also heard the pair had bragged about what they'd done. Neither man has explained why they did it, though Carruthers' lawyer Andrew Gurney described it as "drunken stupidity". The Judge didn't accept that, ruling that it was clearly deliberate and premeditated over a tree that was beloved in the community and known across the world. "For those who live in Northumberland or who love this county, the tree had become a landmark, a symbol of the beauty of its untamed landscape, featuring prominently in local art and local tourism. For others, the tree had become a place, a special personal significance where marriages were proposed and personal tributes to loved ones were left. It was, as Mr Poad (NATIONAL TRUST MANAGER ANDREW POAD WHO GAVE EVIDENCE) observes, a place of peace and tranquillity to which people returned year after year." The Sycamore Gap tree's destruction was met with fury and dismay across the UK, as these residents told the BBC. WOMAN: "Very sad. It makes you wonder why this has happened." MAN: "It was anger initially. When I found out that it was actually malicious - like a malicious act that caused it - now it's just sad." Reaction to the sentence has been mixed. Some say the prison sentence should have been even harsher. MAN: "Terrible to be honest. Yeah, yeah. Terrible. Should have got a lot more..." WOMAN: "The sentence reflects public disgust and anger." Others believe the punishment should have been tailored to fit the crime. "I'm not sure putting them in prison is the right thing to do. I just think community service, just spending a long, long time planting trees, particularly in weather like this..." Meanwhile, work to save what's left of the iconic tree goes on. Last week, the Northumberland National Park said the largest part of the tree would go on display in an installation located not far from where it once stood. And the National Trust, a heritage conservation charity which looks after the site, has collected twigs and seeds from around the base, in the hopes of promoting regrowth. It said last August there were signs of life at the base, giving hope it might live on.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Men who felled ‘iconic' Sycamore Gap tree sentenced
The two men who sparked global outrage after felling one of the most famous and well-loved trees have been jailed. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were found guilty of criminal damage after they caused the Sycamore Gap tree to fall onto Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland in September 2023. The pair used a chainsaw to hack down the 100-year-old tree which crashed into and damaged Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO world heritage site. On Tuesday both Graham and Carruthers were sentenced to prison for four years and three months. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers initially denied involvement in the Sycamore Gap tree's felling. Credit: AAP During the sentencing, Justice Christina Lambert said that the motive of the two men was not clear, but she believed the outrage following the crime gave them 'some sort of thrill,' the BBC reported. Justice Lambert said the tree was a landmark and a 'symbol of the untamed beauty' of the surrounding landscape. In a victim impact statement read to the court, National Trust manager Andrew Poad said the 'iconic tree can never be replaced'. Mr Poad said the vandalism was 'beyond comprehension' and that the destruction led to an 'overwhelming sense of loss and confusion felt across the world'. The tree sat in a saddle between two hills. Credit: Ian Forsyth / Getty Images The tree sat in a saddle between two hills and became an iconic location after being featured in Kevin Costner's 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It was a well loved spot and was often the site of marriage proposals. Scientifically known as Ace pseudoplatanus, the tree is native to central Europe, Italy and western Asia. It is likely the tree was introduced to the UK by the Romans. Hadrian's Wall was built by Emperor Hadrian and it stretches about 117km through the north of England from the banks of the River Tyne to Solway Firth.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Men who chopped down historic tree jailed for four years
The Sycamore Gap tree in the UK was almost 200 years old when two men decided to chop it down. Now, Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32 will spend four years in jail for the deliberate, 'moronic' act of vandalism that saw the iconic and much-loved tree felled. On the dark and stormy night of September 28, 2023, the pair – armed with a chainsaw – travelled to a field near Crag Lough in Northumberland, England. There, sounds muffled by the sounds of Storm Agnes, they chopped down the majestic sycamore tree that toppled onto the nearby Hadrian's Wall. The pair were each convicted of destroying the tree and damaging the ancient wall, which was built by the Romans almost 2,000 years ago and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Judge Christina Lambert sentenced the pair in Newcastle Crown Court to four years and three months for what prosecutors described as a 'moronic mission' on Tuesday, local time. Judge Lambert said there was a high degree of premeditation but the motive remained unclear. Rejecting a claim by Carruthers that he was drunk, she said the pair had likely done it for the 'sheer bravado'. 'Felling the tree in the middle of the night and in the middle of a storm gave you some sort of thrill,' she said. 'You revelled in the coverage, taking evident pride in what you had done, knowing that you were responsible for the crime which so many were talking about.' It is understood the act was filmed on Graham's mobile phone, with messages between the pair revelling in the act read to the jury. Graham and Carruthers had denied the offence before accepting responsibility when speaking to probation officers, their lawyers said. It was the first time in the UK that someone had been sent to prison for illegally felling a tree. The Sycamore Gap tree, which used to sit between two hills in the far north of England, was a much-loved spot to locals, for picnics, birthdays, proposals or to spread ashes. It saw a rise to fame after appearing in Kevin Costner's 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, and was voted English 'Tree of the Year' in 2016.
