The Sycamore Gap Tree

[PassingStranger]

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.

They've also made future job prospects much more difficult. An employer putting their name into a search engine will bring up what they did - and that has to raise questions about their character.

What kind of people willfully destroy a much loved tree ?

Yes! Let them spend a whole day a week for a year, being pelted with ordure.

What's the link lol

How much do we want to bet they both change their names after this? Should be illegal for anyone with a criminal record.

We have a lovely park nearby with lots of beautiful trees. It sickens me that these trees are often damaged by idiots. Just the other day some kids were pulling at a branch on an oak tree, trying to break it off. I was astonished to see an adult man, presumably the father of one of them, actively encouraging them.

What is wrong with people?

Absolutely, kids have always played with trees, but adults should be better. When we see the examples some kids grow up with, it’s no wonder they don’t value much.

Grand. 👍

Have any of them been in major feature films? Have areas officially named after them? Or been on postcards etc.

My mother had a birthday card on her mantle of a water colour of the sycamore gap tree on the day it was felled.

@Maitri108
I love oaks!
For anyone else who likes old trees this is essential!
https://ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

D.M.Graham Ground Work's

(and yes, that's how he spelt it and he did put an apostrophe there...)

I checked it out yesterday. He appeared to have a good business with good reviews. What an absolute twat that man is.

Yes but it’s the judge who’s saying that! Duh!

I remember being told to set aside emotion and decide on the facts of the (different) case. Telling a jury that it is just a tree having been felled may make them more likely to decide on a guilty verdict.

If the jury were told what a terrible, despicable thing this was, they may be more likely to err on the side on not guilty.

And they’re pleading not guilty though it seems there’s lots of evidence that it’s them. Glad their names are out there.

The whole thing is so upsetting. They sound so vile in the voice note recordings they (stupidly) left each other after the felling.

Wonder if they have partners/children/family who are mortified.

I suspect that whatever sentence these men get, it will disappoint quite a few on here. They are charged with criminal damage and no one else got hurt.

They are nothing but mindless thugs. A fitting punishment would be the pair of them being forced to dress up as a tree and take it in turns to stand in place of the one they thoughtlessly felled. Every day, whatever the weather until the shoots that are growing reach the height of the old tree.

What an absolute pillock.

Honestly? My understanding is that, even if they get a custodial sentence, it will be a short one.

Any custodial sentence will do + their name is already mud in the local area for employment opportunities.

I'll come and cut down your garden hedge then. No worries. After all, it's just a hedge.

I hope after the prison sentence they have to do a communjty programme which involves planting hundreds of trees 🙂

in police transcripts read in court today, he whinged about how all his work has dried up as a result of people accusing him of being involved.

its embarrassing that he’s pleaded not guilty. Looking at all the evidence, it’s an open-shut case.

I don't think one of them will.have a business anymore. He couldn't have thought about that.

I'm following the live court reporting, here. Thought it may be of interest. ( all days available).

https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/25126968.sycamore-gap-trial-recap-jury-sees-video-tree-felled/

It appears to be so open and shut and their defence so non existent that I'm now kind of wondering if there is more to it 😁

A short one will do - imo, being sent to prison will have far more of an impact on them and says more about how the law (and society) views the crime.

A long one would be preferable though.