‘It’s difficult to fathom his kind of stupidity’: Justice for the felled Sycamore Gap tree, the surprising verdict is in

On May 9, 2025, a British court found Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, guilty of criminal damage for the deliberate felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, England. Graham and Carruthers cut down the tree, a beloved natural landmark beside Hadrian’s Wall, in September 2023.

The Sycamore Gap tree, also known as the “Robin Hood tree,” was a 150-year-old sycamore that stood along Hadrian’s Wall, an ancient Roman fortification in the north of England, near Crag Lough in Northumberland National Park. Its picturesque setting made it one of the most photographed trees in the UK. 

The 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves featured the tree. The British public voted the sycamore England’s Tree of the Year in 2016. The act sparked national outrage and led to a significant criminal investigation.

“Mindless thuggery” and a “moronic mission”

Early on September 28, 2023, Graham and Carruthers felled the Sycamore Gap tree using a chainsaw during Storm Agnes. The tree’s fall damaged the adjacent Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Prosecutors described the incident as “mindless thuggery” and a “moronic mission.” 

The investigation led to the arrest of Graham and Carruthers, who were charged with criminal damage to the tree and Hadrian’s Wall. Evidence presented at Newcastle Crown Court included GPS data, phone metadata, and video footage showing the men at the scene. Despite denying involvement and blaming each other, the jury found them guilty after five hours of deliberation. 

“It’s difficult to fathom his kind of stupidity”

Both men were remanded in custody and are scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2025. They face potential prison sentences of up to 10 years. The felling of the tree elicited widespread condemnation and sorrow across the UK and internationally. The Woodland Trust called for legislative protection of significant trees, similar to heritage buildings, and there is support for a House of Lords bill to list such trees. One social media comment said, “It’s difficult to fathom his kind of stupidity. Hopefully a big sentence is on the way.”

Nature finds a way

Despite the loss, there is hope for regeneration. The stump of the Sycamore Gap tree has sprouted new shoots, indicating potential for regrowth, though it may take over 150 years to return to its former stature, according to NPR. Authorities and heritage organizations are exploring replanting initiatives using saplings from the original tree to preserve its legacy.