The sycamore chopped down at Hadrian's wall

[Hungrycaterpillarsmummy]

What a fucking horrible thing to do.
It must've taken a lot of effort to cut that tree down, and for what? To do something horrible for the sake of doing something horrible?

Why why why cut down a 200yr old tree? :(

@Winnipeggy I suspect they are just proving why there is no rush to adopt some forms of AI soon.

Anyone who said it wasn't possible for a 16 year to have felled the tree was wrong.

Whether it was actually the 16 year old is another question, but it was certainly possible.

Twitter X has named the boy. I won't screenshot but here's the link. Looks like a lad that works with a chainsaw. Though of course he won't have been alone and the older man is now helping with enquiries.
IMaybe he got kicked off a tree surgery course and decided to "show them". Or as some are suggesting thought it would look good on TikTok. (I'm not being serious with the tree surgeon suggestion btw, but TikTok sounds about right except for the possible involvement of a man in his sixties.

x.com/revengeiswheat/status/1707916918957433321?s=46

The Telegraph is suggesting it was someone with a grudge against the National Trust. Sounds quite possible.

"Speculation is rife at the local pubs. “I heard it was a tenant farmer evicted from his land,” one drinker at the nearby Twice Brewed Inn tells me. “He threatened he would cut down the tree.”"

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/09/29/the-sycamore-gap-tree-was-felled-by-someone-with-a-grudge-a/

16 year olds aren’t all tiny. Mine is only just 16, 6’1” and very strong.

We live rurally and there are lots of youngsters on the farms who work with machinery and heavy equipment and they’ve been doing it for years.

Please not Anthony Gormley.

"Antony Gormley, the sculptor of The Angel of the North is believed to be involved in discussions to create an artwork at the spot."

Just keep the art luvvys away from this.

Oh FFS - not an art installation 🙄

Fgs I prefer a tree

Something carved from the tree's wood, maybe.

So what if it's a community service/rehabilitation sentence....what other recrimination should there be for cutting a piece of wood down?

What should the legal and justice system do with the culprit?

It's a hefty fine for chopping down trees, up to £20k. so the fine and community service

That 16 year old should be given a chainsaw and a tree that needs to be felled to see how good he is because there’s no way a 16 year old could do it that well. I hope the real offender is found out.

Are you suggesting that the 16 year old suspect should be given a chain saw and another tree to chop down to see if is capable of the crime???

As nutty Mumsnet posts go that's a classic!

I had never heard of the Sycamore Gap and had never been there but when I saw the pictures and what a beautiful sight it was I was heartbroken. ‘Vandalism’ doesn’t cover it, it’s a desecration.

They could make it an annual tournament, plenty of 16 year olds with not much to occupy them, anyone got a forest needs deforesting?

If the teen drops the chainsaw and chops off his leg he's innocent! 😂😂😂😂

Absolutely this ^

It’s such a destructive act. A massive two fingers up at the world to destroy something so beautiful. The lad needs taking in hand. I would sentence him to a year’s hard labour at RHS Wisley where he can learn the value, and the hard work, that goes in to nurturing trees and plants.

It’s so quick and easy to destroy something and takes years of dedication growing trees and plants. You sometimes are not as aware of that as you should be when young; not that that is any excuse for his despicable behaviour. But the lad obviously needs a firm steer. There can hardly be a louder cry to acknowledge needing help/recognition/desperation/anger etc.

My theory, farm kid who’s adept at riding a quad, probably a tractor, herding sheep and felling trees went up there alone. Being an idiotic 16 year old thought he would practice his tree cutting skills on a 300 year old tree in the middle of nowhere and borrowed (farmer) grandads chainsaw without his permission.

grandad on waking up and putting 2 plus 2 together lied about grandsons whereabouts and has been arrested for perverting the course of justice.

@FarmersFriend We can call it the Sycamore Hop.

'Farm kids' love rural life and their environment. There is zero chance anyone cut that tree down to practice their chainsaw skills. Sorry.

More likely this was a deliberate act by the 60 year old with a grudge and the 16 was the sacrificial lamb (no pun intended) because they knew a 16 year old would not go to prison. Quite possible they are even related and the 60 year old has a position they did not wish to lose.

We farmed the area for years. A 16yo boy did not fell this tree alone.
Latest news reports now confirming my initial thoughts.