Page 13 | To ask what punishment the guys who cut down sycamore gap tree deserve?

JorgyPorgy · 2025-05-01T08:04:08+00:00

I hope those sick thickoes get a jail term but also hefty fine and lengthy community service , planting hundreds of trees . Punishment to fit the crime. I think they’ve angered & upset so many people globally that they will have targets on their backs now. That beautiful tree was 300 y o & would have lived hundreds more. Lots of new samplings can’t replace the carbon sink of a mature tree nor give out the oxygen it did, nor support the biodiversity it did. It’s so sad.

BIossomtoes · 11/05/2025 11:26

If the maximum sentence is ten years I sincerely hope that’s what they’ll get. They’ll be out in five anyway.

WestwardHo1 · 11/05/2025 11:30

WestwardHo1 · 11/05/2025 11:20

I saw a post on the IG of a well known author yesterday criticising the strength of feeling about this pair, and suggesting that their punishment should be lenient because they look as though they are disadvantaged.

Struck me as the worst kind of virtue signalling patronising bullshit. "They look thick so let's #bekind to them". I taught a girl in a SEND class once who had an IQ of 68. Damn right she knew right from wrong. She joined the conservation club and helped me plant trees, despite being intellectually and culturally impoverished.

These scumbags wanted to upset people and destroy something they thought they had power over. Is prison the right answer? Probably not, as they will just learn worse stuff in there. A lengthy period of properly administered community and environmental service is probably more appropriate.

Plus a fucking massive fine of course.

Though they won't be able to pay it back.

It's unfortunate, because everyone knows full well that the ONLY reason this case was pursued with such vigour is because it was famous. Scumbags up and down the land every day get away with vandalising and destroying the stuff people love simply for the lols.

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 11/05/2025 11:31

Motherknowsrest · 11/05/2025 11:11

And there's endless "tree surgeons" and "gardeners" on facebook who'll happily cut down a tree or hedge in nesting season and lay plastic grass in a garden. None of them have any care for our environment. Take the money and run and know there won't be any consequences.

Look at that magnificent oak that was cut down in North London the other week. Doesn't appear to be anything that can be done about it.

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I know. There is a whole industry catering to the wishes of entitled tree haters.

OonaStubbs · 11/05/2025 12:22

They should get at least 50 years each. And when they get out they should be forced to plant trees.

gattocattivo · 11/05/2025 13:17

And then of course go to hell 🔥😂

mumda · 11/05/2025 13:39

Non-custodial with community service planting trees.

Prison costs a lot. Make them stay in gainful employment and work weekends for the next 20 years?
20 too long?
15?

BIossomtoes · 11/05/2025 13:50

I don’t care about the cost of prison, it will be worth every penny.

IfYouPutASausageInItItsNotAViennetta · 11/05/2025 14:23

OonaStubbs · 11/05/2025 12:22

They should get at least 50 years each. And when they get out they should be forced to plant trees.

In the gardens of old people's homes - with residents that are younger than they are!

Giggorata · 11/05/2025 14:49

In the voice of David Mitchell: KILL THEM.

rubicustellitall · 11/05/2025 15:24

Two weekend a month til they retire planting trees, forestry,farm work, dry stone walling anything outdoors and nature related and fine each of 10% of annual income for life.

WestwardHo1 · 11/05/2025 20:47

rubicustellitall · 11/05/2025 15:24

Two weekend a month til they retire planting trees, forestry,farm work, dry stone walling anything outdoors and nature related and fine each of 10% of annual income for life.

I actually think this is a good idea. Personally I think a lot of the crimes we see against nature are because people have completely lost touch with nature and wildlife. Anything that tries to force them to confront that their lives are in fact part of an ecosystem is a good thing, IMO.

I would do the same to Donald Trump 😬

Edited for shoddy grammar

Original poster

JorgyPorgy · 11/05/2025 21:08

I know trees are cut down all the time but that is out of “necessity” (I wish trees had more protection).
But in this case, it was a purposeful and planned, malicious act. The sadistic intention is what needs punishing.
A little bit like when murder is premeditated vs manslaughter or accidental killing.

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MyCyanReader · 11/05/2025 21:11

A community service planting trees for the maximum 300 hours.

Their own wood cut off 🤣

Tessiebear2023 · 11/05/2025 21:17

I don't think they should go to prison. Prisons are full to the brim and are an extremely expensive way of punishing people. I personally think they should only be for dangerous or repeat offenders.

A fine and lots of community service to pay back the public is more fitting. Don't waste any more money on these two losers, for goodness sake.

WestwardHo1 · 13/05/2025 10:15

I saw an article this morning indicating that they had been implicated in homophobic harassment.

What a pair of charmers they are.

Mistyglade · 13/05/2025 11:08

Chop their legs off.

(joke)

Tessiebear2023 · 13/05/2025 13:30

WestwardHo1 · 13/05/2025 10:15

I saw an article this morning indicating that they had been implicated in homophobic harassment.

What a pair of charmers they are.

A couple of complete wasters. It's about time they were given something to do, it's a pity community service doesn't involve hard labour.

Original poster

JorgyPorgy · 13/05/2025 18:51

Tessiebear2023 · 13/05/2025 13:30

A couple of complete wasters. It's about time they were given something to do, it's a pity community service doesn't involve hard labour.

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Send them to the gulag! 😉

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getahhtmapub · 13/05/2025 20:10

TheDefiant · 11/05/2025 11:22

Hmmm, this is in jest about the oxygen part, but not about the other parts:

they shouldn’t be allowed to benefit from anything that is connected to trees for the rest of their lives.

No paper to write on or read, no books, no toilet paper. No fruit from trees. No medicine from trees, no oxygen, no cider, nothing from any animal or insect that relies on trees. No Christmas tree. No wood furniture or anything that has a bit of wood in it. No wood to burn if they get cold.

They should be forced to live a tree less life.

To be fair though, barring the fruit bit, those items are only possible by cutting down trees.

Original poster

JorgyPorgy · 13/05/2025 20:56

getahhtmapub · 13/05/2025 20:10

To be fair though, barring the fruit bit, those items are only possible by cutting down trees.

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We rely on trees for so much but if you have such disrespect for trees then you shouldn’t be allowed to benefit from them!
A little bit like people who hunt animals for sport and not to eat.

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Youstolemygoddamnhouse · 13/05/2025 21:28

SnackDealer25 · 01/05/2025 09:14

Why is it such a big deal that they cut the tree down? I’m not asking that in a rude wayI’m trying to understand why there is such a huge global upset and would love to understand the impact. And also why did they cut it? Was it just to be spiteful?

I think prision would be wasted on people like this as would educating them as they clearly don’t care. There should be financial punishments instead

The tree is part of a beauty spot. People from around the world go to visit the area specifically to see the tree and beautiful views. The tree was made even more famous as it was featured in the hit 1990s film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves starting a Hollywood cast and has been featured in nature/tourism documentaries for the North East and contributes to the culture Northumberland. The tree had been there for almost 150 years, living peacefully without any acts of vandalism. Yes it is just a tree but it’s the act itself of cutting it down is what is outraging people. It was done spitefully and with full intend to hurt people. These two idiots knew people would be losing their mind that it had been cut down. This is why we can’t have nice things. Not even trees are safe from men.

OonaStubbs · 13/05/2025 21:38

You might as well say "Why is it such a big deal that someone vandalised the Mona Lisa?, someone vandalised a painting of dogs playing snooker in the local pub and they only got a small fine"?

WestwardHo1 · 14/05/2025 09:13

Youstolemygoddamnhouse · 13/05/2025 21:28

The tree is part of a beauty spot. People from around the world go to visit the area specifically to see the tree and beautiful views. The tree was made even more famous as it was featured in the hit 1990s film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves starting a Hollywood cast and has been featured in nature/tourism documentaries for the North East and contributes to the culture Northumberland. The tree had been there for almost 150 years, living peacefully without any acts of vandalism. Yes it is just a tree but it’s the act itself of cutting it down is what is outraging people. It was done spitefully and with full intend to hurt people. These two idiots knew people would be losing their mind that it had been cut down. This is why we can’t have nice things. Not even trees are safe from men.

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Has anyone mentioned the fact that it was a tourist attraction? There will have been plenty of people whose businesses used to benefit from visitors coming to that part of the wall - pubs, B&Bs, shops, cafes.

These fuckers wanted to hurt them too. They couldn't have said "I'm powerless and pathetic and haven't made anything of my life" more if they'd tried. I still don't think throwing them in prison is the answer. Well, maybe a short sentence as an example to others, then a long period of community service, preferably service which involves enhancing the environment for others.