Latest news with #treefelling
SBS Australia
6 days 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.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- BBC News
How has Sycamore Gap tree felling affected Haltwhistle?
The Northumberland town of Haltwhistle is a popular stopping-off point for the thousands of visitors going to Hadrian's Wall and Sycamore Gap each year. As two men are jailed for felling the tree which once stood tall in the Gap, people living in the town tell the BBC about the damage done. Nicole Carlin will never forget the morning of 28 September 2023."We were here in the cafe and our phones just blew up," she says. "But we honestly thought that the images we were seeing were photoshopped."The pictures she and others were being bombarded with defied belief - the much-loved Sycamore Gap tree was lying across the old Roman wall, the trunk now severed from its who runs the Yellow Bird cafe on Haltwhistle's main street with her husband Carlos, was in moved to the UK from Los Angeles in 2022, she could still vividly recall the first time she saw the tree standing proudly in a dip along the wall. "People talked about it all the time and we drove along the Military Road and there it was, and it was just so beautiful," she says."Maybe even now, perhaps it's the Hollywood in me, but it still feels like a celebrity death, that sense of unreality."Our Facebook group Haltwhistle Matters was full of nothing else, loads of theories and names."At first we were just wondering who would do such a thing, but then we were thinking about how it would affect our business because the wall and Sycamore Gap are so important round here." Carlos nods in agreement."For the first few days, it's all anyone who came in here talked about," he says."Everyone was out for blood, trying to figure out who had done it and why." Men jailed for felling 'irreplaceable' sycamoreListen to Felled: The Sycamore Gap storyWatch The Sycamore Gap: From Roots to Ruin Like many locals, Ed Corble, who runs a bed and breakfast three miles (5km) from Sycamore Gap, often visits the a coffee, he agrees that anger was at the forefront of local feeling that day."I do remember there were quite a lot of rumours flying around, even some suggestion of going after people that made me quite uncomfortable," Ed says. "People were split between those who just wanted revenge and those who were talking about the legacy of the tree and how to turn it into something positive.""Personally I don't think we'll ever really understand why it happened, we just have to try and move on." From Hadrian's Wall campsite which overlooks Haltwhistle, owner Steve Miller also describes his "vivid" memory of the moment he heard news of the felling."We have a little cafe here and I was in there and the lady that delivers our milk came along and told us," Steve says."There was just this total sense of disbelief. "The tree had a significance for so many people, we would get guests who would go there with a picnic, they'd perhaps been there years before, people had proposed marriage there, everyone was drawn to it."Steve says many local business owners were also extremely worried about the loss of the tree and what that might do to visitor numbers. Initially, that fear was unfounded. "Last year we actually found there was an uplift in numbers because a lot of people came just to look at what all the fuss is about," he says."Conversely this year, people are not asking about the Sycamore Gap [tree] any more and our numbers are down, that might be due to the global economy, but who knows?"But Steve thinks the loss of the tree has chipped away an important piece of what draws people to Haltwhistle. "The landscape will always be the same amazing landscape of course, and that particular spot will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who knew what was there before," Steve says."But for those of us who live and work here, yes, of course we have lost something very precious." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
From bragging posts to iconic vid – the damning evidence that led to arrest of idiots who chopped down Sycamore Gap tree
THE two idiots who felled the historic Sycamore Gap tree have finally been jailed for their shocking crime. Now, we reveal the damning evidence that led to their conviction, from bragging posts to a shocking video of the chopping. 10 10 10 Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were jailed on Tuesday for four years and three months each. Detective Inspector Calum Meikle, who investigated the felling, said he knew he'd solved the crime when he saw the tree's "fantastically famous outline" on one of the perpetrator's phones. He revealed that officers were "tipped off" about Graham and Carruthers' involvement a few weeks after the shocking felling of the historic tree in September 2023. The tip-off stated that the pair of ground workers were responsible for chopping the tree down, even keeping a piece of the wood as a trophy. This led to the arrest of both men and seizing of their phones. Speaking to the Daily Mail, DI Meikle said a video recovered from Graham's device was incredibly dark, with details almost impossible to see. However, after sending it to be digitally enhanced, investigators discovered they had found evidence of the tree being destroyed. Gasps could be heard at Newcastle Crown Court as the now iconic grainy black and white video - accompanied by the sound of a revving chainsaw and cracking wood - was shown for the first time. DI Meikle said: "I'm always impressed with what our digital forensic units are able to achieve. "But, as you have seen from the video, as the person filming moves back, it shows us that fantastically famous outline (which) was undoubtedly the Sycamore Gap tree. Men who cut down iconic Sycamore Gap tree sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in jail "I was very pleased to have that evidence." Graham's phone also housed multiple other pieces of damning evidence, including photographs of a wedge of the tree trunk taken by the criminal as well as that of a chainsaw in the boot of his Range Rover. The pair of idiots not only chopped down the history tree but also damaged Hadrian's Wall during their "moronic mission". In just two minutes and 41 seconds, the two men chopped down the tree, which had stood next to the historic wall for more than a century. At their trial, the court heard how the pair had only recently admitted to responsibility for the felling in interviews with the Probation Service. They accepted they drove 30 miles through a storm to chop down the iconic landmark in the early hours of September 28, 2023. 10 10 10 Mrs Justice Christina Lambert said: "I can now be sure you, Adam Carruthers, were the person who felled the tree and you, Daniel Graham, assisted and encouraged him by driving there and back and not least by filming it on your phone." As they fled the scene, Carruthers forwarded the sick video to his partner. The wedge of the iconic tree - which was photographed in their vehicle - has never been found. Following their shocking crime, and as news broke of the vandalism, the pair shared social media posts about the tree, with Graham saying to Carruthers "here we go," as they "revelled" in reports of the crime. Although prosecutors said the friends had chopped the famous tree down for "a bit of a laugh," and suggested Carruthers was so obsessed with the Sycamore Gap that he wanted the wedge as a special souvenir for his newborn daughter, neither has offered any proper explanation for why they did what they did. This week, Carruthers claimed he had drunk a bottle of whisky and could barely remember chopping down the tree - although the judge said this was implausible due to the skill and coordination of the crime. Andrew Gurney, representing Carruthers, said he had made the admissions in a pre-sentence report. 10 10 10 He said: "He does wish to cleanse his conscience of what he has done. People want to know 'Why? Why did you conduct this mindless act?' "Unfortunately, it is no more than drunken stupidity. He felled that tree and it is something he will regret for the rest of his life. "There's no better explanation than that.' Richard Wright KC, prosecuting, said there had been a 'high degree of planning and premeditation'. He said: "This was an expedition which required significant planning in terms of taking a vehicle, driving for about 40 minutes to a car park, taking with them appropriate specialist equipment, carrying the equipment for about 20 minutes' walk in each direction. 'The felling was carried out in a deliberate, professional way.' On the other side, Graham continued to blame his accomplice, insisting cutting the tree down had been Carruthers' "dream" and "his show" which he simply went along with. The criminal also claimed he was "shocked" that Carruthers had followed through with his plan.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hairy Biker Si King returns to Sycamore Gap tree site
When the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree was illegally felled in September 2023, TV chef and Hairy Biker Si King was among those devastated by the wanton destruction. He was so angry he could not bring himself to visit the site again - until now. He takes several deep breaths, steeling himself, then walks slowly up to the the fence surrounding the remains of the sycamore, several green shoots are growing."Dear me," Si says simply, before turning away, too overwhelmed by the "big yawning gap" in the landscape."I've put off coming to see it, because I didn't want to," he inspects the scars left by a chainsaw blade."Absolutely mindless," he the morning of 28 September 2023, when news that the much-loved landmark had been felled spread globally, Si was among those expressing their fury."You've just murdered a sentinel of time and elemental spirit of Northumberland," he raged on social media. "For whatever warped reason you've done it, it's shocking."The TV chef, best known as one half of the Hairy Bikers, had to postpone filming that day because of his "visceral reaction" to the news. In his direct message to those responsible - a 44 second clip that's had almost two million views on X - he furiously ranted that he hoped they had a from the north-east of England, where the tree had grown for more than 100 years, Si knew its importance."There was a magic and majesty to it," he says, calling it an "absolute exclamation mark of who we are in this part of the world".Men jailed for felling 'irreplaceable' sycamoreListen to Felled: The Sycamore Gap storyWatch The Sycamore Gap: From Roots to Ruin Si had been sent the news of its felling in a text message by a close friend, who had come to cherish the tree following a personal hoped she was mistaken, but links to news articles sent in follow-up messages brought the dreaded was his anger, he had to record his condemnation video several times because of the swearing in the original versions. Following a third expletive-free attempt, he asked fellow Hairy Biker and best friend Dave Myers if it was acceptable to be shared with their one million followers on X."I was absolutely raging," Si says."That level of vandalism and brutal bitterness was beyond my comprehension."I can't comprehend the mindset that would just do that. I don't understand that character and personality. That was just plain nasty."It felt so personal."That sentiment was shared by millions both in the UK and around the world. Sycamore Gap was the scene of marriage proposals, wedding photographs and somewhere grieving families scattered Si, it was a "special place" that provided moments of "peace", "solace" and "counsel." It was also somewhere he visited when "in crisis."Five months after the tree was cut down, his on-screen partner and "best mate" Dave died at the age of 66, two years after revealing he had the tree still been there, Si says he would have gone there to reflect on his loss, "given the year everybody involved with the Hairy Bikers has had". However, with only the stump remaining, it was "too much" for him to visit in the immediate aftermath of Dave's one occasion he drove to the road adjacent to Sycamore Gap, but his emotions halted his return and he "looked away", unable to bring himself to stop his was only in June, after Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, both from Cumbria, had been found guilty of chopping down the tree, that he says he felt ready to return, accompanied by a BBC film crew for the documentary The Sycamore Gap: From Roots to Ruin."It's quite difficult to put into words," he says, as he surveys the scene."I'm an emotional human being and it's sorely missed - tragically so." Sycamore Gap had extra poignancy to Si because of another personal close friend who had texted him on the day to say the tree had been cut down had lost her son when he was just the teenager's death, Sycamore Gap became a natural place for them to gather and grieve."The impact of that, because we were all very close, was enormous," Si peacefulness of Sycamore Gap was "of solace" to them all, so much so the tree was depicted on the young man's gravestone."Sycamore Gap is that important," Si says."It's not just a tree." Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
RNZ News
15-07-2025
- RNZ News
Two men who chopped down iconic UK tree handed jail sentences
The tree at Sycamore Gap was felled in 2023. Photo: 123RF Two men found guilty of the "mindless" and "deliberate" felling of one of the UK's most iconic trees, which sparked national outrage, have been jailed for more than four years. A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found former friends Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, guilty in May of criminal damage for the 2023 felling of the tree at Sycamore Gap. It had stood for nearly 200 years next to Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern England. The tree was so striking that it featured in the 1991 Hollywood film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves . Sentencing the pair at the same court, Judge Christina Lambert said their actions had involved a "high degree of planning and preparation" and caused widespread "shock and bewilderment". For those who lived in the county the tree had become "a landmark, a symbol of the beauty of its untamed landscape", she said. Graham and Carruthers each received a sentence of four years and three months. Both men were convicted on two counts of criminal damage to the sycamore and to the Roman wall, which was damaged when the tree fell on it. "This iconic tree can never be replaced ... it belonged to the people. It was totemic," said Andrew Poad, a manager with the National Trust conservation charity, in a victim impact statement read to the court. He said the felling was "beyond comprehension" and had caused "an overwhelming sense of loss and confusion". The pair drove to the site near Hexham in Graham's Range Rover and felled the tree on the night of 27 September, 2023, slicing through the trunk with a chainsaw in "a matter of minutes", said prosecutor Richard Wright. "Having completed their moronic mission, the pair got back into the Range Rover and travelled back towards Carlisle" where they lived, he added. The pair were jointly charged with causing £622,191 (NZ$1.4 million) of criminal damage to the tree and £1144 (NZ$2569) of damage to Hadrian's Wall, an ancient Roman fortification stretching from northwest to northeast England. The sycamore was a symbol of northeast England and a key attraction photographed by millions of visitors over the years, winning the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year in 2016. Efforts are under way to see if it can be regrown from its stump or seeds. The National Trust, which owns the wall and the tree, said it has grown 49 saplings from the sycamore's seeds, which will be planted this winter at sites across the UK. A more than two-metre piece of the felled tree now forms the centrepiece of an art installation on permanent display at a visitor centre near where it stood. People can see and touch part of the trunk, and "can once again gather, sit, and reflect", according to the visitor centre. - AFP
