Two men charged with cutting down famous 150-year-old tree near Hadrian’s Wall

The felling of nan Sycamore Gap character on Hadrian’s Wall successful bluish England past twelvemonth caused an outpouring of condolences and outrage successful nan UK and beyond.

Now 2 men person been charged pinch cutting down nan beloved 150-year-old tree, prosecutors said connected Tuesday (30 April).

Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, were charged pinch causing criminal harm and damaging nan wall built successful A.D. 122 by Emperor Hadrian to defender nan northwest frontier of nan Roman Empire.

They were ordered to look successful Newcastle Magistrates’ Court connected 15 May.

Why was nan Sycamore Gap character truthful popular?

The sycamore's majestic canopy betwixt 2 hills made it a celebrated taxable for scenery photographers.

It became a destination connected nan way on nan wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, aft being featured successful Kevin Costner’s 1991 movie “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves."

The nighttime felling caused wide outrage arsenic constabulary tried to find nan culprits down what they called a deliberate enactment of vandalism.

Northumbria Police Superintendent Kevin Waring called it “an incredibly sad day” erstwhile nan character was found.

A hiker who was among nan first group to spot it lying connected nan crushed expressed shock.

“It’s fundamentally nan iconic image that everyone wants to see,” Alison Hawkins said astatine nan time. “You tin forgive nature doing it, but you can’t forgive that.”

Will nan Sycamore Gap character beryllium replaced?

Graham and Carruthers were arrested successful October and released connected bail. It took authorities much than six months to bring charges against them.

Det. Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney said she recognised “the spot of emotion successful nan section organization and further afield” but cautioned group against speculation aliases remark that could impact nan criminal case.

The National Trust, which owns nan onshore wherever nan character stood, said it will return up to 3 years to spot if caller maturation sprouts from nan sycamore's stump.

The spot removed nan character and was hopeful that astir a 3rd of nan seeds and cuttings it collected could later beryllium planted.

“I grieve profoundly for that tree,” writer Rob Cowen wrote successful an sentiment portion for The Guardian newspaper successful October. 

“But I besides grieve for whoever group retired past Wednesday into that large wind pinch a chainsaw, because we person grounded them conscionable arsenic surely arsenic we person grounded nature.”