This afternoon two men have been charged with the destruction of the historic Sycamore Gap tree.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers have today been charged with criminal damage after felling the iconic tree in September last year.
They have also been charged with causing criminal damage to Hadrian’s Wall, which lies directly next to the tree, and will appear at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on May 15.
The Sycamore Gap Tree, located in Northumberland, is one of the most photographed trees in the United Kingdom and appears in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.
It was found felled on September 28, with its upper section piercing the historic Roman barrier, after being attacked overnight in a “malicious act of vandalism”.
The iconic tree, believed to be 300 years old, was found cut down this morning
Walkers stop to look at the tree next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland after it was felled in September last year.
Northumbria Police officers arrive at Sycamore Gap tree site to investigate
YesCPS North East Complex Case Unit specialist prosecutor Gary Fothergill announced: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has authorized Northumbria Police to charge Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers with causing criminal damage after the Sycamore tree Gap was cut down last September.
“They have also been charged with causing criminal damage to Hadrian’s Wall and will appear at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on May 15, 2024.
‘We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the accused are active and that they are entitled to a fair trial.
“It is extremely important that there are no reports, comments or sharing of information online that could in any way undermine these proceedings.”
Last September, walkers first noticed how part of the iconic tree appeared to have been marked with white paint, indicating someone may have cut it down with a chainsaw.
Alison Hawkins, who lives in Liverpool, was one of the first people on the scene and posted a photo on Facebook with the caption: “A terrible moment for everyone walking Hadrian’s Wall.” The Sycamore Gap Tree is Gone! It wasn’t the storm that knocked him down!!’
Ms Hawkins, who was on her fourth day walking Hadrian’s Wall, said she was “crying” when she discovered the tree had been cut down.
She said: ‘At first we thought it was because of the storm, but then we saw a national park ranger.
‘He said they had cut it and there was paint around the cut section, so he was a professional who knew where they were going to cut.
“It was a real shock. It’s basically the iconic image that everyone wants to see. You can forgive nature for doing it, but you can’t forgive that.’
Officers urged people not to visit the site while they investigated the area in September.
Part of the tree appeared to have been marked with white paint, indicating that someone may have cut it down with a chainsaw.
The Sycamore Gap was featured in the 1991 box office hit Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (pictured) starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.
Following the evil act, a Northumberland National Park Authority spokesperson said: “The Northumberland National Park Authority can confirm that sadly the famous Sycamore Gap tree fell overnight. We have reason to believe it has been deliberately felled.
“We are working with the relevant agencies and partners interested in this iconic North East landmark and will publish further details once they are known.”
They added: “It is currently unclear whether the tree is a victim of Storm Agnes or a deliberate act, although images indicate a clean, straight cut.”
Matt Brown, 37, from nearby Twice Brewed Brew Company, was one of the first on the scene.
Mr Brown said: “I was getting ready when I heard a rumor that the tree at Sycamore Gap had been felled and I ran to see what had happened.
“It was a huge shock to see it lying there, that tree is a real icon and for those of us who were born in this area it really means something.”
“It was probably cut with a chainsaw, and a big one at that.” It looks as if it was cut in one fell swoop, meaning the blade must have been about two meters long.
‘It was done overnight and appears to be a thoughtful and planned act. But I don’t understand why anyone would choose to do something like that.
‘There can’t be anyone who has such a problem with that particular tree that they would walk a mile at night to go and cut it down, it is an act of malice, but it can only be out of malice.
‘The tree can be seen from the old military road that passes by, but to access it you have to climb over barbed wire and walk through boggy ground for a mile.
‘I also noticed that the trunk had been marked at the place where the cut was to be made.
“This is someone who knows how to cut down trees and made sure they fell in the right direction, but it’s hard to understand why anyone would do this.”
Yesterday I was talking to a Canadian lady who had come to this place specifically to see the Sycamore Gap tree. It is iconic and something especially special for the brewery.
‘Our signature beer is called Sycamore Gap and the tree is our logo. It’s really hard to believe this happened.
The Sycamore Gap tree pictured after being felled in Northumberland
Sycamore Gap was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016
Walkers and locals said it was “unforgivable” if the tree was deliberately vandalized.
People look at the tree at Sycamore Gap next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland
A walker with a flower kneels to look at the felled tree on September 28, 2023.
Sycamore Gap was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 at the Woodland Trust Awards and is much loved by people around the world.
North Tyne and Metro Mayor Jamie Driscoll visited the devastation and said: “This tree is iconic.” You can see love stones on the ground where people in the past proposed to their partners.
“Other people have scattered their ashes here. This is part of our culture. I have family in North America and when they cross paths we take them here.
‘This is not a felled tree. This is an insult to the people of Northumberland. If you look at the damage, you realize this is someone with a 28-inch chainsaw who knew what they were doing.
‘I have received many messages from people who are upset about this. I’m normally a measured man, but this makes me very angry.
‘I heard that people are crying. “It’s a really special place for the people around it.”
Driscoll now hopes the culprit will turn himself in to police.
“It’s a really healthy tree and someone knows who did it,” he added. ‘If they have any decency they should contact the police.
“Hadrian’s Wall has been here for over 2,000 years so we will work together with the authorities to find something that is suitable.”
This is breaking news, more on that later.