Men found guilty of cutting down famous Sycamore Gap tree

The tree was famous all over the world

Two men have been found guilty of illegally cutting down a world famous tree.

The Sycamore Gap tree, which once stood next to a dip in Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, was deliberately cut down, in 2023.

Daniel Graham who is 39 and Adam Carruthers, 32, who are both from Cumbria, were convicted of criminal damage following a trial in court.

Both men are expected to be sentenced in July.

What has the reaction been?

The tree was cut down in September 2023

The police say the two men never gave a reason for their actions and that there could "never be a justifiable one".

"Due to the unwavering commitment of those involved in the case, today we have seen two men be found guilty of damaging not only the tree but also Hadrian's Wall," said Superintendent (Supt) Kevin Waring after the trial.

"We often hear references made to mindless acts of vandalism – but that term has never been more relevant than today in describing the actions of those individuals."

Mr Waring described the tree's destruction as "devastating".

Signs of new life were captured last year growing from the stump of the felled Sycamore Gap tree

The National Trust, which took over the care of the famous tree in 1942, said the reaction to it being cut down demonstrated the "powerful connection between people and our natural heritage".

"It was felt particularly deeply here in the north-east of England where the tree was an emblem of the region and the backdrop to many personal memories," a spokesperson said.

"We're now focussed on creating a positive legacy for the tree, working in partnership with others.

"This includes planting the 49 Trees of Hope grown from the original sycamore in communities across the UK later this year."

The 49 saplings being planted around the UK represent each foot in height the tree was before it was cut down.

Why is the Sycamore Gap tree so famous?

The Sycamore Gap tree once stood alongside Hadrian's Wall

The Sycamore Gap tree was planted some time between 1860 and 1890.

It stood along Hadrian's Wall which was built by the Roman army and took six years to complete.

The tree became an iconic landmark after appearing in a scene in the 1991 film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, with people all over the world visiting the site to see it.

It was one of the most photographed trees in the country and even won the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year in 2016.