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

[JorgyPorgy]

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.

You've gone with vile. Fair enough.

The 'WHY' is what I can't get past,?
What makes 2 'grown' men decide to drive to the other side of the country in the middle of the night, with equipment they then have to lug across fields to cut down an iconic/globally loved tree for NO actual outcome?? Oh and then record yourselves doing it but deny its you??
I just can't fathom that out!

I know. It’s unfathomable.

And one of them had a newborn! 12 days old I think, what goes through your mind to decide to leave your partner & 12 day old baby at home to go cut down a tree in the middle of the night.

I have no personal connection to the tree but I think what they've done is awful. They've destroyed something beautiful for the pure fun of it.
They've taken a simple pleasure away just because they could.

Prison

Hundreds of thousands of trees to plant , preferably through the winter

Secure hospital?

I think you're in danger of agreeing with the OP.

Id be surprised if they haven’t been sacked already from their jobs and taken a beating over this. They’ll be having to watch their backs wherever they go

A vile punishment to fit a vile crime by a pair of vile excuses for people

Short custodial. It was so brutal they deserve it.

Then being supported to do an environmental science GCSE and years of litter picking, tree and wildflower planting.

I like that. Oh the humiliation! What would you like to see thrown at them? I’d suggest a pile of rotten leaves, some tree bark. What about a quick swat with a tree branch a la Basil Fawlty. 😂

💩

Preferably wearing a fluorescent high-vis with "I'm the twat who chopped down the Sycamore Gap tree" emblazoned across the front and back.

Definitely.

One of them had or has a partner and a baby at the time.

Let's fetch some perspective they cut down a tree yes it was a landmark but it's a tree one tree won't help carbon footprint .they won't get jail people who commit violence get petty sentences do they won't. But I do think they should be made to do community service in a tree planting environmentally forward looking place .maybe they may understand if explained

Agree.

This, education and litter picking

I'm sure someone's already suggested wooden stocks in the market square made out of sycamore. People could file past and heckle them every Saturday. It would be great for local businesses. They could do a tour around the country.

The courts will decide. Whipping up extra hatred on Mumsnet is unnecessary.

. . . and water them for a year.

Any that die they need to replant, and so on until there are 1000 healthy 2/3 year old trees.

If we were in medieval times I’d suggest cutting off one of their limbs so they can see what it’s like but since we’re not then it’s got to be prison time.

They are responsible for irreparable damage.
Really low, selfish act.
I hope that it is a deterrent for other idiots.

They haven’t been found guilty yet.

Where is the motive?