Wafric News – May 9, 2025

Two men have been found guilty of criminal damage after deliberately cutting down the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree—a much-loved symbol of northern England’s natural and cultural heritage. The felling, which stunned the UK and drew international outrage, also caused damage to the historic Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were both convicted at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday. Each was found guilty of two counts of criminal damage: one for destroying the beloved 200-year-old sycamore tree, and another for damaging the Roman-built wall on which the tree fell. The men will be sentenced on July 15 and will remain in custody until then.

The court heard how the pair drove over 30 miles in the dead of night to the Northumberland National Park in September 2023, where they carried out what prosecutors described as a "mindless act of destruction." One man cut the tree while the other recorded the felling on video. The entire act took less than three minutes—but left a permanent scar on a treasured landscape.

Prosecutor Richard Wright KC revealed that the damage caused by the felling was valued at £622,191 (approximately $826,000) for the tree, and an additional £1,144 (about $1,500) for Hadrian’s Wall. Evidence presented included videos, WhatsApp messages where the men joked about the act, and photos of a tree stump beside a chainsaw in the back of Graham’s vehicle—seemingly taken as a "trophy."

“This was a deliberate and senseless act that ended a piece of living history in mere minutes,” said Gale Gilchrist of the Crown Prosecution Service.


Adam Carruthers and Daniel Graham arrives at Newcastle Crown Court

The Sycamore Gap tree, often described as one of the most photographed in Britain, stood as a dramatic feature along Hadrian’s Wall. It was a fixture in local and international tourism, immortalised in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and named England’s Tree of the Year in 2016.

Its destruction triggered widespread grief and condemnation across the UK and abroad. The National Trust, which jointly manages the site, said the incident revealed “the powerful connection between people and our natural heritage.”

Northumbria Police added that neither man had ever provided a motive. “There never could be a justifiable reason,” the force said in a statement.

During the trial, the court learned that Graham and Carruthers were once close friends, working together as tree surgeons and often handling large trees. However, their relationship had “unravelled” in the aftermath of their arrest. Graham testified that Carruthers had once described the tree as “the most famous in the world” and had openly discussed cutting it down.

Both men were remanded by Mrs Justice Lambert, who cited risks to their safety and flight concerns. Graham had already been in custody since December "for his own protection," and Carruthers’ identity was described as widely known, raising concerns for his welfare.

The Sycamore Gap tree stood as a symbol of endurance and natural beauty in the English countryside for more than two centuries. Its loss is more than environmental—it is cultural, emotional, and national.

In a rare alignment of legal consequence and public sentiment, the conviction of Graham and Carruthers has been met with relief, but also renewed calls for stronger protection of natural landmarks.


By WafricNews Europe Desk.