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Original poster

The Sycamore Gap Tree

183 replies

PassingStranger · 30/04/2025 18:19

2 men on trial for felling the tree.
Aren't they embarrassed, what on earth possessed them?
They weren't exactly young either.

Grown men
Bet their parents are proud not?
Grow up.

OP posts:
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5
PorpoiseWithPurpose · 30/04/2025 22:12

TheHerboriste · 30/04/2025 20:26

Agree. they look like a couple of useless, ignorant, toxic tools.

I doubt they'll get much of a sentence as the jury is being instructed to think of it as "just a tree being felled" and to set aside emotion.

So I hope they are relentlessly flogged and published by the media, social media and in their private lives.

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One of the accused owns a groundworks company in Carlisle. His business Facebook page is taking an absolute hammering.

gamerchick · 30/04/2025 22:18

GourmetLettuceMix · 30/04/2025 18:28

It is a bit pathetic, but also....it's just a tree. They shouldn't have done it, but there are more important things to be outraged about.

Well tbf it wasn't just the tree. It fell on the wall and caused a fair bit of damage. It'll cost a bit to repair.

The tree isn't dead but it's a shame such an old tree was vandalised like that for no reason. People just don't care anymore.

Bloozie · 30/04/2025 22:27

AlmostSummer25 · 30/04/2025 19:58

how on earth can you put monetary value on a tree???

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Something called the CAVAT System is used.

Size: Measured by the trunk's cross-sectional area.
Species: Different species have varying amenity values.
Condition: Health and structural integrity of the tree.
Location: The tree's setting and its significance within the landscape.
Public Visibility and Access: How accessible and visible the tree is to the public.

Foolsgold74 · 30/04/2025 22:29

LoveTKO · 30/04/2025 19:47

I am baffled why they did this.

No it’s not just a tree. It’s a beautiful piece of nature that was highly admired across the world. And they knew that.

Wankers. Hope they go to prison. Most people are disgusted by their actions, and I imagine other inmates will think they are weird too.

Other inmates are murderers, rapists, burglars...the very scrapings of the bottom of the human barrel. Mindless vandalism will barely raise an eyebrow.

Welshwhales · 30/04/2025 22:37

I really hope they get a long custodial sentence , the two of them must have warped minds . A beautiful tree in full foliage destroyed for what ???

Bloozie · 30/04/2025 22:39

It wasn't just a tree. It was the final resting place of many people's loved ones, a tourist attraction and film location, both of which attracted inward investment to the area.... It was 'just' a tree in the same way that a gravestone is 'just' a piece of rock.

And I think people are outraged in part because it's a tree. Because it's entirely innocent and benign. Who the hell destroys trees? And the rest of the outrage lies in its sentimental value, because again, who the hell sees something giving other people pleasure and thinks, 'I'm going to destroy that'.

As others have said, it speaks to a deeply unpleasant darkness of character.

That said, I don't think they should receive a custodial sentence. They're no risk to society. They should be made to volunteer in woodland conservation projects for a significant period of time, and I'm not slightly upset if their businesses tank as a result because truly, they are absolute idiots. The messages they exchanged afterwards... total mouth breathers.

CruCru · 30/04/2025 22:43

TheHerboriste · 30/04/2025 20:26

Agree. they look like a couple of useless, ignorant, toxic tools.

I doubt they'll get much of a sentence as the jury is being instructed to think of it as "just a tree being felled" and to set aside emotion.

So I hope they are relentlessly flogged and published by the media, social media and in their private lives.

Show quote history

The thing about serving on a jury is that you are asked to decide whether you believe the defendant to be guilty or innocent. What sort of sentence they would get is not the jury’s business - it’s up to the judge.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 30/04/2025 22:52

GourmetLettuceMix · 30/04/2025 18:28

It is a bit pathetic, but also....it's just a tree. They shouldn't have done it, but there are more important things to be outraged about.

I suppose you think Hadrian's wall is "just a wall". Not many would agree with you on either point. Our heritage abd our natural environment should be available to enjoy not for morons to destroy.

legsekeven · 30/04/2025 22:53

I hope they get a long long period of community service. Something to do with nature. 1000 hours at least. It’s such a horrible thing to do. Why destroy something beautiful just because you can. Disgusting

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 30/04/2025 22:56

GourmetLettuceMix · 30/04/2025 18:28

It is a bit pathetic, but also....it's just a tree. They shouldn't have done it, but there are more important things to be outraged about.

In the same way that historical statues are ‘just statues’ and shouldn’t be upended and tossed into rivers and thousands of years old antiquities are just vases and stuff. Yep your argument is rock solid.

EvangelicalAboutButteredToast · 30/04/2025 23:03

I read the article this morning and it seemed they were very keen to go viral and make the press. I don’t know why they did it and agree the evidence points to them having certainly done it. I’m going for both of them being the thick side of stupid.

EdisinBurgh · 30/04/2025 23:12

They aren’t stupid or ignorant.

They are cruel and destructive.

They apparently planned and carried out the act in cold blood driven by a motivation of causing harm.

IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 30/04/2025 23:14

SquatBetty · 30/04/2025 19:26

What a sad pair of inadequate, insecure men. I reckon one or both certainly have erection problems

I completely agree that they are truly pathetic, nasty people; but it seems kind of low to equate that with suggesting they have a specific medical problem that a great many (perfectly nice) people suffer from.

They might also have tinnitus, or scoliosis, or deafness, or asthma, or plantar fasciitis; but the only relevant thing is that they chose to deliberately do a nasty, selfish, pointless act that they knew would upset a huge number of people across the UK and even further afield.

IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 30/04/2025 23:15

LlynTegid · 30/04/2025 20:29

A lifetime on St Kilda perhaps? Where they can do no harm.

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Rockall would be even better!

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 30/04/2025 23:16

I hate that this has happened and I feel genuine rage every time I think about it. i remember reading countless stories of what it meant to be people - memorials and proposals and pregnancy announcements. All the most important moments of people’s lives. It is grotesque that two, horrible, SMALL men have taken that from us all.

Wishing them erection problems and stubbed toes every day for the rest of their lives ON TOP OF A HEFTY PRISON SENTENCE. I am not usually an advocate of prison but fuck them, throw away the keys. xoxo

IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 30/04/2025 23:20

I will never, ever understand why people vandalise anything - unless maybe they hate the owner and want to deprive them of a prized possession - but when something is just preserved for and enjoyed by the general public... why?

A (criminally-minded) person's reasons for theft make perfect sense - they obviously want something for themselves (or the money from selling it) without having to work or wait for it to acquire it honestly.

But what possible purpose is there in destroying something lovely and treasured so that nobody can enjoy or benefit from it - including them (if they cared)? Whatever would make somebody do that for, what could their motive be?

mumda · 01/05/2025 00:02

Sycamore grow like weeds here. I can send anyone who wants some a few saplings.

If it was an oak I would feel more bothered.

MorningSunlight · 01/05/2025 00:23

It wasn’t just any sycamore though was it.

CiaoMeow · 01/05/2025 05:55

"It's just a tree" is like saying "it's just a bee."

It's that mentality that caused this atrocity.

TranceNation · 01/05/2025 06:11

They can certainly expect a custodial sentence I think with all the media attention this is getting and I think their employment opportunities will be extremely limited in the local area on release.

Sauvin · 01/05/2025 06:33

I don’t think it’s the tree in a way that’s upset everyone - it’s the mentality behind the act that is enraging.

Wouldyouafamandeveit · 01/05/2025 06:39

Motherknowsrest · 30/04/2025 20:53

My hunch is 20% of the population are the ones who cause 99% of the crap we have to deal with.

Personally I wouldn't be sorry if they had a short custodial sentence. After that they should be litter picking and planting trees for life.

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Totally agree, it upset me so much.

As for the 'it's just a tree' person, I hope you've read the comments on here and noted the outrage and it will begin to dawn on you that's it's never 'just' a tree

the80sweregreat · 01/05/2025 07:15

Vandalism like this, graffiti everywhere , people who steal from others. We live in a sick world sometimes

Moonmelodies · 01/05/2025 07:21

Stand by for some kind of neurodiversity claim from their defence team.

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