# Historic British tree is maliciously cut down **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 28, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833 "2023-09-28T19:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/41 "2023-09-30T02:34:53Z")
Apparently [tree killing is a capitol offense in the US](https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/us/harvey-updyke-alabama-auburn-dead/index.html). Actually, the guy who poisoned 2 famous trees at Auburn University got a 3 year sentence. > He was sentenced to serve at least six months of a three-year sentence for criminal damage to an agricultural facility, the Lee County District Attorney said at the time. StG ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/42 "2023-09-30T14:22:18Z")
The tree that appears in an important scene in _Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves_ starring Kevin Costner ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/43 "2023-09-30T18:57:02Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Apparently [tree killing is a capitol offense in the US](https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/31/us/harvey-updyke-alabama-auburn-dead/index.html)…. A criminal offense, but not a capitol (or capital) one. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/44 "2023-09-30T19:55:43Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > The tree that appears in an important scene in _Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves_ starring Kevin Costner Yes, I know, I was just informing you that your video link is no longer viable. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/45 "2023-09-30T19:59:32Z")
It has a region restriction and is disallowed for Canada and the United States of America. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/46 "2023-09-30T20:16:05Z")
Yeah, still works from here, so I thought an explanation of the content was in order. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/47 "2023-09-30T20:43:04Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > It has a region restriction and is disallowed for Canada and the United States of America. What about this one ? [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cC2NC5s6NOk/hqdefault.jpg "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) - "I'm Home" (Sycamore Gap) scene [1080p]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC2NC5s6NOk&t=136) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/48 "2023-09-30T20:51:14Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > What about this one ? Works for me, thanks. What a horrible film, enlivened only by Rickman’s fantastic over the top performance. Sheriff of Nottingham : **Just a minute.** **Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it?** Sheriff of Nottingham : _That’s it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings, and call off Christmas._ ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2023, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/49 "2023-09-30T21:00:33Z")
Why a _spoon_ cousin? Why not an axe? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/50 "2023-11-08T14:51:54Z")
You got me. The latest news: [https://www.cnn.com/travel/damage-to-ancient-hadrians-wall-confirmed-after-famous-uk-tree-deliberately-felled/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/travel/damage-to-ancient-hadrians-wall-confirmed-after-famous-uk-tree-deliberately-felled/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/51 "2023-11-20T16:40:30Z")
More famous tree felling news, this time stars from game of thrones … > **[Game of Thrones: Safety team on site to cut down six Dark Hedges trees](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67467973)** > > Six trees forming part of the Dark Hedges, featured in Game of Thrones, will be removed for safety. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/52 "2023-11-21T14:39:32Z")
Also [this one in Ghana](https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/67377136), earlier this month, although there’s no major film or tv series connectd with it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/53 "2024-04-30T21:16:32Z")
Two people have been charged over the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree - on Criminal Damage to both the tree and the ancient wall. > **[Two men charged over felling of beloved Sycamore Gap tree](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/two-men-charged-felling-sycamore-gap-tree-police-b1154789.html)** > > Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, are due in court next month ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/54 "2024-05-01T00:50:12Z")
Good. I hope they get the maximum penalty, though it probably won’t be enough. ---
**Author:** ![EnglishGrey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/englishgrey/32/14111_2.png) [@EnglishGrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnglishGrey)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/55 "2025-07-15T14:26:19Z")
Both sentenced to 4 years and three months. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/56 "2025-07-15T14:37:42Z")
> The judge said at Newcastle crown court that the pair **would be released no later than 40 per cent through their prison sentences.** > > Each will serve a further six months concurrently for the damage the pair caused to Hadrian’s Wall as a result of the felling. > **[Sycamore Gap pair jailed for four years and three months – live updates](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2025/jul/15/sycamore-gap-tree-sentencing-trial-hadrians-wall-news-live-updates-latest)** > > Adam Carruthers and Daniel Graham jailed over criminal damage of beloved tree “later”? is that a typo and should it be “earlier”? If so maybe 2 1/2 years. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/57 "2025-07-16T02:43:05Z")
Yes, likely “earlier.” ---
**Author:** ![Dahu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dahu/32/3416_2.png) [@Dahu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dahu)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/58 "2025-07-16T20:34:59Z")
Just my opinion as a local, yes they deserved punishing but 4+ years for cutting down a tree is ridiculous. Maybe it was “world famous” (although I’d never heard of it before all this fuss) but many criminals get much less than this for violent assault. 100 years isn’t particularly old either, and sycamore isn’t even a native species. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/59 "2025-07-16T20:36:10Z")
It brought in a huge amount to tourism to the area for whatever reason and now that’s gone ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833/60 "2025-07-16T22:23:20Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > Just my opinion as a local, yes they deserved punishing but 4+ years for cutting down a tree is ridiculous. While I’ll take it with a grain of salt, said [Tree was valued at £622,191 (later lowered to a 450,000 estimate)](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly38wr66dro), which, of course, isn’t recoverable. I’m not local, and agree that 4.5 years for cutting down any “generic” tree seems much, but 4.5 years for causing that much property damage is more reasonable. Lots of possible disagreement with said valuation, but massive property damage (value wise) is a reasonable reason for a more severe penalty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/historic-british-tree-is-maliciously-cut-down/990833.md?page=4)