In 2023, two men used a chainsaw to chop down the famous Sycamore Gap tree in northern England during what was described as a “ridiculous mission.” A prosecutor mentioned on Tuesday that the act was captured on a cellphone.
The tree, a cherished symbol located near Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was discovered to have been cut down illegally in September 2023.
The trial for the two accused, Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both residents of Cumbria, kicked off on Tuesday at the Newcastle Crown Court, situated less than an hour’s drive from where the tree stump can be found.
Both men have pleaded not guilty to two charges related to criminal damage. In his opening statement, prosecutor Richard Wright described the act as a “ridiculous mission” and “an intentional and thoughtless act of vandalism.”
Mr. Wright informed the jury that on the night of September 27, 2023, Mr. Graham and Mr. Carruthers drove from Carlisle to intentionally cut down the tree.
The prosecutor noted that they used a chainsaw to take down the tree in a matter of minutes, employing techniques that suggested they had specialized skills in tree felling, and the act was recorded on Mr. Graham’s phone.
He also stated that a wedge cut from the tree was later found next to a chainsaw in Mr. Graham’s Range Rover. “This may have been a trophy taken from the scene, a reminder of their actions,” Mr. Wright explained, “actions that seemed to bring them joy.”
The evidence collected from the defendants’ phones indicated that they shared social media updates and international news articles after the tree’s felling was reported, with Mr. Graham sending a WhatsApp voice message to Mr. Carruthers stating, “It’s gone viral — it is worldwide.”
Mr. Wright pointed out that Mr. Graham, who owns a construction business, and Mr. Carruthers, who works in property maintenance and mechanics, are friends and had previously cut down another large tree together just a month prior.
The prosecutor mentioned that while they couldn’t determine who actually cut down the tree, digital evidence suggested both men were present at the site.
Cellular data revealed that both defendants’ phones had traveled to and from the Sycamore Gap area on the night in question, while CCTV footage captured Mr. Graham’s Range Rover traveling the same route.
According to Mr. Wright, it wasn’t necessary to establish each man’s specific role for them to be found guilty of criminal damage, stating: “Whoever recorded the cutting down is just as responsible for the damage to the tree and the wall as the individual using the chainsaw — they were in this together.”
Both defendants deny cutting down the tree and have pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal damage, which pertain to both the tree and the portion of Hadrian’s Wall that fell due to the incident.
Mr. Graham contends he had no part in the incident, claiming his car and phone were misused without his consent, and alleges that Mr. Carruthers had an accomplice. Mr. Carruthers also asserts he was not at the scene and had no role in the tree’s felling.
The trial is projected to last for two weeks.
The destruction of the tree has saddened many, as it was an icon standing on Hadrian’s Wall, a fortification built by the Roman army in the second century.
The tree served as a notable landmark and had been a site for wedding proposals, memorial ceremonies, and countless family photos, making its way into memories shared worldwide. It also featured in the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”
At the time it was illegally cut down, the tree was nearly 200 years old.
In August, rangers discovered some sprouts emerging near its base, signaling unexpected new growth. Seeds and genetic material collected from it last year have also begun to sprout. The National Trust plans to distribute 49 saplings next year to honor the legacy of the tree.
This number was chosen intentionally, according to Andrew Poad, the general manager of Hadrian’s Wall, partly managed by the National Trust. The tree was 49 feet tall before it was cut down, and the saplings will be about one foot tall when given to their new caretakers.
