Two men have this afternoon been charged over the destruction of the historic Sycamore Gap tree.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers have today been charged with criminal damage after cutting down 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 UK’s most photographed trees and featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.
It was found chopped down on September 28, with its upper section lying across the historic Roman barrier, after being targetted overnight in a ‘malicious act of vandalism’
The iconic tree, which is believed to be 300 years old, was this morning found cut down
Walkers stop to look at the tree next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberlandafter it was cut down in September last year
Northumbria Police officers arrive at the scene of the Sycamore Gap tree to investigate
Specialist Prosecutor for CPS North East’s Complex Casework Unit Gary Fothergill announced: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Northumbria Police to charge Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers with causing criminal damage after the Sycamore Gap tree 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 15 May 2024.
‘We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendants are active and that they have a right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice 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 felled it with a chainsaw.
Alison Hawkins, who lives in Liverpool, was one of the first people on the scene posting a picture on Facebook with the caption: ‘An awful moment for all walking Hadrian’s Wall. The Sycamore Gap tree has gone! Not the storm an absolute ******* felled it!!’
Ms Hawkins, who was on her fourth day of walking Hadrian’s Wall, said she was ‘tearful’ 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 it had been cut down and there was paint around the cut section, so it was a professional who knew where they were going to cut.
‘It was a proper shock. It’s basically the iconic picture that everyone wants to see. You can forgive nature doing it but you can’t forgive that.’
Officers urged people not to visit the scene while they investigated the area in September
Part of the tree appeared to have been marked with white paint, indicating that someone may have felled it with a chainsaw
The Sycamore Gap featured in the 1991 blockbuster Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (pictured) starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman
Following the wicked act, a Northumberland National Park Authority spokesman said: ‘Northumberland National Park Authority can confirm that sadly, the famous tree at Sycamore Gap has come down over night. We have reason to believe it has been deliberately felled.
‘We are working with the relevant agencies and partners with an interest in this iconic North East landmark and will issue more details once they are known.’
They added: ‘It is not clear currently whether the tree is a victim of Storm Agnes or it is a deliberate act – though pictures indicate a clean and straight cut.’
Matt Brown, 37, of the Twice Brewed Brew Company nearby, was one of the first at the scene.
Mr Brown said: ‘I was brewing when I heard a rumour that the tree at Sycamore Gap had been cut down and ran over to see what had happened.
‘It was a quite a shock to see it lying there, that tree is a real icon and to those of us who were born in this area it really means something.
‘It was certainly cut down with a chainsaw – and a big one. It looks as though it has been cut through with one stroke which means the blade must have been about two metres long.
‘It was done overnight and seems to be a thought-out and planned act. But why anyone would choose to do such a thing is beyond me.
‘There can’t be anyone with such an issue against that particular tree that they walk a mile at night to go and saw it down, it’s an act of malice but can only be for malice’s sake.
‘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 marshy ground for a mile.
‘I noticed also that the trunk had been marked at the spot where the cut was going to be made.
‘This is someone who knows how to fell trees and made sure it toppled in the right direction, but it’s hard to fathom why anyone would do this.
‘I was speaking to a Canadian lady only yesterday who had come to this spot specifically to see the Sycamore Gap tree. It is an icon and something particularly special to the brewery.
‘Our signature ale is called Sycamore Gap and the tree is our logo. It’s genuinely hard to believe that this has happened.
The Sycamore Gap tree is pictured after being felled in Northumberland
The Sycamore Gap was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016
Walkers and locals said it was ‘unforgiveable’ if the tree was deliberately vandalised
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
The Sycamore Gap was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trust’s awards and is much-loved by people from across the world.
The mayor for North Tyne and Metro, Jamie Driscoll, visited the devastation and said: ‘This tree is iconic. You can see love stones on the floor where people in the past have proposed to their partners.
‘Other people have had their ashes scattered here. This is part of our culture. I have family in North America and when they come across we take them here.
‘This is not a tree cut down. This is an insult to the people of Northumberland. If you look at the damage, you realise it is someone with a 28-inch chainsaw who knew what they’re doing.
‘I’ve had lots of messages from people who are upset about it. I’m normally a measured man but I’m very angry about this.
‘I’ve heard people are in tears. It’s a really special place to the people from the surrounding area.’
Mr Driscoll is now hoping the culprit will hand themselves in to the police.
‘It’s a really healthy tree and someone knows who did this,’ he added. ‘If they have any decency at all they should contact the police.
‘Hadrian’s Wall has been here for coming up to 2,000 years so we will work together with the authorities to come up with something that is fitting.’