200-300 year old sycamore tree felled by teenager

[rusticretreater]

A famous centuries-old Sycamore in Northumberland National Park in the United Kingdom was cut down overnight, and police have captured the 16-year-old culprit.

Located at the Sycamore Gap near Hadrian's Wall, the tree was featured in the 1991 movie, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves."

Police say the 'world-renowned landmark, and the vandalism has caused shock and anger throughout the local community and beyond'.

The tree was estimated to be between 200 and 300 years old, according to reports.

By afternoon, police had arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the incident.

Police said the teenager remained in custody and was assisting police with their investigation.

 

 

[Erik A]

WHY ?? ??

[teakwood]

What a shame. it makes me angry and sad. they should put him in jail 

[thecfarm]

Sad to see something destroyed in minutes that took 200 or more years to grow.
Such a waste of a landmark tree.

[JD Guy]

What a despicable, childish act! 

[newoodguy78]

WHY ?? ??

Just a guess but might have something to do with him not knowing what the sting of a leather belt or wooden spoon feels like.
That's such a waste hope he's prosecuted to the fullest extent. 

[WhitePineJunky]

A city in my province has old public gardens they call it, landscaped by the city it's a nice park to see old trees, last winter somebody girdled about 25 of these 250 year old elm trees. If there's a way people can figure to bother you or get a reaction, it will be done and teens definitely are bad for stuff like this they get in the big groups and start circle jerking dumb ideas for popularity 

[Southside]

Here it's very obvious that respect has been vanishing for a long time here, especially over the past several years, clearly they are having the same issue there. 

[Magicman]

He should be required to plant thousands of trees over the course of many years. 

[Ianab]

He should be required to plant thousands of trees over the course of many years.

That's often an actual sentence that's available, under community service. 
So it would be both fitting and legal.

[customsawyer]

 

[Chuck White]

It would be really nice if it's not too late, to saw up the tree into usable lumber and make something of historic significance with it!

Hard to believe, even a young, ignorant teenager would really do such a thing!

[Southside]

I suggest a paddle that is used to beat his you know what with. 

[teakwood]

Probably some evidence in form of a video on youtube or tiktok, because you know, they only do stupid stuff if it's filmed and posted.

[Don P]

They've arrested and released an adult male as well as the youth. They don't know who did it at this point. It was apparently well notched and was dropped in a gale.

[barbender]

I also read that a 66 year old man was arrested in connection to this. As far as the kid, it could be due to the decline of respect, morals, and accountability. Or seeking TikTok fame. Who knows? Or it could be a stupid impulsive foolish move that teenage boys sometimes randomly make. I did a few things when I was a teen that I'm absolutely ashamed of, and my parents raised me WAY better. You know the saying, "One boy, one brain. Two boys, half a brain. 3 boys, no brain at all"? I've taken part in activities that that demonstrate that saying to be very, very true🤦🤦

[JD Guy]

He should be required to plant thousands of trees over the course of many years.

That's often an actual sentence that's available, under community service.
So it would be both fitting and legal.

Should be the perps lifetime sentence!! Or until he reaches the age of the tree he demolished.

[Magicman]

Amen !! 

[Tom King]

My money is on the disgruntled 66 year old that is good with a chainsaw.  He did say it was a pretty cut.

[Texas Ranger]

Back in the day the high school I attended (Ferguson Mo) had cypress trees on the front lawn, maybe 50 years old, one morning we came to find one on the ground, felled by two enterprising young guys with an old two-man misery whip.  They were expelled and charged with vandalism. Google earth shows them still there, the survivors, that is.

[SawyerTed]

No When I was in high school, somebody cut a (Japanese maybe) Maple on campus.  It wasn't huge, probably 5 or 6 inches in diameter at the cut and maybe 15' tall. The AH who cut it, cut it off flat about 12" from the ground.

The ag teacher and students aligned it and reattached it to the stump.   They braced it with stakes and ropes and used wooden cleats to hold it together at the stump. Don't know if they used and chemical treatment.  

It lived!  It's been many years since I went back but it was still there 5 or 6 years after I graduated.  It might be akin to grafting.  

I might have to ride down there some afternoon to see if it's there 43 years later.

[SawyerTed]

There is a tree in that location according to Google Maps.  Is it THE tree?  I don't know.  

[beenthere]

They AH who cut it

??

[Southside]

Air Head

[Ianab]

Air Head

That's the polite FF friendly version, so we will stick to that ;)
I have to think there is more to the story though. Looking at the pictures, it was cut down by someone that knew what they were doing. Nice wedge out of the face, back cut and hinge wood are all done right. I'm have trouble matching that up with an Air Head teenager?

[customsawyer]

Most of what I want to say doesn't even belong in the restricted part of the forum. What I will say, is that I would like to get my hands on the rascals. With a 60 year old being involved, and the fact that it looks like he had a little skill, I'm willing to bet it was retaliation for something. No telling what, or if they will dig that deep. May not even want it out in the open.

[Jeff]

I think they should have to pay whatever it takes to replace it with an equivilant tree, even if its hundreds of thousands, since a million dollar view was destroyed. The Midget dr. In me says use the lumber to build a gallows.

[rusticretreater]

Here is a link to an article about efforts to keep this tree in the nations conscience:

Seeds collected from Sycamore Gap 'spring into life' at National Trust centre

Looks like they are doing a fabulous job.