Two men convicted of the shocking destruction of one of the UK’s most cherished natural landmarks, the Sycamore Gap tree, will be sentenced today at Newcastle Crown Court.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were found guilty in May of criminal damage after deliberately chopping down the iconic 200-year-old sycamore tree beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland in September 2023. The tree, a symbol of the northeast and a popular tourist attraction, featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and won the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year award in 2016.
The pair, once friends, were convicted on two counts: criminal damage to the tree and to the UNESCO-listed Roman wall, which was damaged when the felled tree crashed onto it. Prosecutors said the duo carried out their “moronic mission” in the dead of night, using a chainsaw to bring down the tree within minutes before fleeing in Graham’s Range Rover.
The damage is estimated at over £622,000 for the tree and £1,144 for the wall. The two men face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled to begin at 11:00 am (1000 GMT).
The act provoked widespread outrage both in the UK and internationally. The National Trust, which owns the site, called the felling “deliberate and needless,” adding that it was deeply felt in the North East, where the tree had been a cherished regional emblem.
Despite the loss, efforts to preserve the tree’s legacy are underway. The National Trust has successfully cultivated 49 saplings from the sycamore’s seeds, which will be planted across the country later this year. A two-metre section of the felled trunk is now displayed at a nearby visitor centre, forming the heart of a memorial installation where people can gather, reflect, and reconnect with the tree’s memory.
Written By Rodney Mbua
