https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-66947040

I have never seen this magnificent tree and now I never will.

It is frustrating and upsetting. It has taken me a few hours to get over it, but at least it was only a sycamore. Sadder that there are idiots who will think this was a great joke.

My son and family live in Hexham, love this 200 year old tree and even have a photo they took of it on the wall.
People, me included, are genuinely sad and upset that such a mindless act could be undertaken. Looks like someone took a chainsaw to it on a stormy night.

16 year old arrested

Just read this too, why would a 16 year old do something like this? Such a thought would never have come to us when we were 16, but guess we’re from different times. It’s distressing to see what some kids do nowadays…

since the cuts look clean, they also had access to a big chain saw....

Sadly, nothing surprises me anymore. This truly sucks. They really need to prosecute these crimes severely or this will probably become a Tik-Tok trend. In planning our trip last year, I had really wanted to see the tree, but ran short of time. I must say my hope for humanity diminishes by the week. If this world lasts another quarter of a century, I'll be surprised (of course I'll be dead anyway). I'm in my "Get off my lawn mood" right now after reading this.

Such a shame and so hard to understand. Perhaps an enormous cry for help?

One function of a prison sentence is to remove an offender away from society as they reject societal norms.

in this case, I’d be really comfortable with a life sentence for the little s***.

That tree and it’s iconic image was all that was good in society on every level , the little s**** is all that is wrong.

shame we still don’t operate Border Reiver law in the Scottish Borders - it made Islamic Sharia law look like a walk in the park.

you are far too accommodating, far , far too accommodating.

Same here - an iconic tree and an iconic act. We need to find a new Australia - send them there so they can live their lives how ever else they want.

And then there were two
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-66966187

I think this is very sad. I don't know why it was done not that there could ever be a good reason. I think it was beautiful and I've only been to Hadrian's wall once. I didn't see it and will only see the pictures of it now. So many incidents like this happen and it makes no logical sense. I do hope they are able to get a replacement sapling to replace it. It won't be the same but maybe for the years to come, it too could bring some joy to people.

Some good news:

Saplings from the felled Sycamore Gap tree are to be planted across the UK, including next to one of London’s most famous roads, at a rural category C prison and at a motor neurone disease centre opening in the name of the late rugby league star Rob Burrow.

The National Trust on Friday announced the recipients of 49 saplings it has called “trees of hope”.

https://www.theguardian.com/environm...ings-announced

And on it goes:


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-...arks/104531556

Adelaidean, that, too is very shocking and sad. We had similar vandalism in our Public Gardens here in Halifax in the summer of 2022:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...ized-1.6534067

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/29/w...smid=url-share

Gifted so no firewall.
I’m surprised that the two charged are men in their 30s - no stupid teens involved.

Guilty as charged. Sentencing in July

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...droidApp_Other

30 year olds with no parent of wife to control them, basically kids with no responsibility.

The good news is that there are plenty of its cuttings planted elsewhere as saplings - and now some new shoots from the original stump. All is not lost.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/...t-sycamore-gap