Skip to main content

Newcastle, United Kingdom (AFP) – A 38-year-old man on Wednesday denied criminal damage, after one of the UK’s most-loved and photographed trees was found cut down next to the Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage site.

Daniel Graham entered a not guilty plea to causing £622,191 ($786,657) worth of damage to the sycamore tree at Sycamore Gap, which had stood for more than 200 years in the Northumberland National Park.

The tree, located in a dramatic dip in the landscape and which featured in the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, was found felled in September last year, causing national outrage.

Graham also denied causing £1,144 worth of damage to Hadrian’s Wall, the ancient Roman fortification which stretches 73 miles (118 kilometres from northwest to northeast England.

He appeared before a court in Newcastle upon Tyne with Adam Carruthers, 31, who did not enter pleas to the same charges. Both wore balaclavas to hide their identities as they arrived and left court.

Both were released on unconditional bail until a further hearing on June 12.

The tree, which was a symbol of northeast England, won the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year in 2016 and was a key attraction photographed by millions of visitors over the years.

It was found felled after storms, with white paint marks on its stump, as if cleanly cut, AFP reporters at the scene said at the time.

Efforts are now under way to see if the tree can be regrown from its stump or saplings from its seeds.

Hadrian’s Wall was begun in 122 AD during the reign of emperor Hadrian, and marked the boundary between Roman Britannia and unconquered Caledonia to the north.

bur-phz/aks/yad

© Agence France-Presse

Featured image: The sycamore tree at Sycamore Gap; Credit: wazimu0 | CC BY 2.0

Brazil’s Porto Alegre: a flood disaster waiting to happen
Brazil’s Porto Alegre: a flood disaster waiting to happenNews

Brazil’s Porto Alegre: a flood disaster waiting to happen

By Sandra FERRER | AFP Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Porto Alegre, the Brazilian metropolis left submerged after torrential rains, had been lulled into a…
SourceSourceMay 16, 2024 Full article
Spain declares three days of mourning after deadly floods: minister
Spain declares three days of mourning after deadly floods: ministerNews

Spain declares three days of mourning after deadly floods: minister

Madrid, Spain | AFP - Spain will observe three days of mourning from Thursday after rare flash floods that have killed at least 62 people…
SourceSourceOctober 30, 2024 Full article
European airport pollution threatens health of 52 mn people: NGO
European airport pollution threatens health of 52 mn people: NGONews

European airport pollution threatens health of 52 mn people: NGO

Paris, France | AFP - High concentrations of tiny particles released when aviation jet fuel is burnt pose a health risk to 52 million people…
SourceSourceJune 25, 2024 Full article