Famous Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall found cut down

rebel11

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/28/famous-sycamore-gap-tree-at-hadrians-wall-found-apparently-cut-down

Albus_Scope

Oh no!  Why would anyone do that to such a beautiful piece of nature?

OverlyAnxious

Humans...

Did have a chuckle at the wording though...'thought to be deliberately felled'...as opposed to what?  Someone causally wandering around waving a chainsaw!? 

Rosie_Scope

That's so sad, what an iconic landmark

rebel11

This sounds like 'thugs' on a 'jolly', a bit inebriated, a dare etc.

No sane right thinking person would do that.  

Trees actually communicate with each other,
share minerals and resources etc. 

WelshBlue

Was definitely felled by someone with experience.  Sink cut and hinge too perfect for it to be anything else

Plus a decent sized bar and chain, not your common garden care variety

Mindless.  Shame it didn't snap and kickback at them like Sycamore is prone to do

MadCow1

Absolutely gutted. It's not that far from where I live. I have no words. Apparently a 16 year old has been arrested. I think he would have had to have help doing that. It was a beautiful tree in a beautiful place that is forever changed.😭🌳💔

Albus_Scope

I just saw they'd arrested a 16 year old. I'm guessing it won't be them, but they'll have information on who butchered the poor thing.

I'm really hoping they can at least use the fallen tree and make something beautiful to put in its place, to commemorate it. 

rebel11

If they wanted to they could create an artificial replacement, the technology exits to do that. Not the same, but something to consider. Needs a Go Fund Me page. 

C_J

Its such a shame that things like that happen it makes you wonder why people do things like that it was a lovely healthy tree. 
It also featured in the movie Robin Hood Prince of thieves. 

Beaver79

I love trees. I think this is very sad. 

Grinchy

so sad, mindless vandalism, they have arrested someone, but what will he get, a fine? shame on them

rebel11

A few days has passed, so what excuse could the alleged tree feller come up with to negate their actions, 'I lost my keys in the trunk'?   

Jimm_Scope

The 16 year old has been released on bail and a man in his 60s has been arrested.

I will say, wasn't that one of the nights of storm Agnes? It would've been windy as hell up there. With a tree that size? And the cut looks well done. It looks professionally done almost. Not sure I know many 16 year olds who are professional arborists. If it was the 16 year old he'd have a good career after his fine/sentence.

Though, being the person who vandalised such a beautiful tree probably would make it difficult to find clients.

rebel11

Jimm_Scope said:

The 16 year old has been released on bail and a man in his 60s has been arrested.

I will say, wasn't that one of the nights of storm Agnes? It would've been windy as hell up there. With a tree that size? And the cut looks well done. It looks professionally done almost. Not sure I know many 16 year olds who are professional arborists. If it was the 16 year old he'd have a good career after his fine/sentence.

Though, being the person who vandalised such a beautiful tree probably would make it difficult to find clients.

Yes, a very 'clean cut' to be storm Agnes. They should of tried to graft it back, see if it 'takes', nothing lost in trying, albeit a 'challenge'.   

Jimm_Scope

From what I've read the tree is just too heavy to try grafting it back. The stump is alive, best time of year for this to possibly happen as it's already stored much in it's roots to last over winter. With luck it will grow shoots in the spring next year and may grow back into a tree, though it will take decades. Hundreds of years to get it back to how it was.

I've also heard talk of turning the felled wood into a monument or sculpture somewhere nearby. As I said, apparently grafting is so difficult with a tree so large and old at this point.

C_J

The skyline there will never be the same and every tree grows differently I think a monument would be a good idea but again it will never be the same and that's such a sad thing as it was a beautiful tree. I don't think any excuse would be good enough for what was done the tree ment a lot to lots of people for different reasons.

And just imagine all the years the tree has stood there the things that have come and gone over time.

OverlyAnxious

I've been waiting for this to come out as an an environmental stunt by JSO or similar. 

Would be a very powerful activity to show how many people are more concerned by environmental issues and irreversible damage when they can see them in their own back yard.

Just seems like too big a plan to be conducted by a 16 year old and have no purpose behind it. 

rebel11

OverlyAnxious said:

I've been waiting for this to come out as an an environmental stunt by JSO or similar. 

Would be a very powerful activity to show how many people are more concerned by environmental issues and irreversible damage when they can see them in their own back yard.

Just seems like too big a plan to be conducted by a 16 year old and have no purpose behind it. 

I don't think the Green / Climate lobbyists are that 'reckless' in this country, it would be 'counter' productive. Also damaging a tree regardless of the tree's status goes against what they believe in.   

OverlyAnxious

rebel11 said:

I don't think the Green / Climate lobbyists are that 'reckless' in this country, it would be 'counter' productive. Also damaging a tree regardless of the tree's status goes against what they believe in.   

Unfortunately some are.  Holding up traffic increases emissions.  Throwing paint around is hazardous to the immediate area and paint production isn't a low CO2 process either.  It's all about making an immediate impact for what they perceive as the long term 'corrections' to societal behaviour.

Jimm_Scope

As a strong environmentalist, I cannot understand many of JSO's acts. If anyone should be disrupted it is the people who decide on legislation. As it's only with legislation that change will finally happen. What use is there in **** people off and turning them against you? It's just used as ammunition against their reasonable cause.

That said, for this to be the act of an environmentalist group I would either suspect a false flag or someone devoid of all logic.