Two men from Cumbria face serious charges after allegedly felling the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, a beloved landmark that has stood for over a century. Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, now face felony charges. They together caused over £622,191 worth of criminal damage to one tree and £1,144 worth of damage to Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The crash happened on the morning of September 28, 2023. Both men had been riding in Graham’s Range Rover, on loan from the Inn of the Fifth Season in Cumbria.
Their ambition? To minimize damage to the venerable tree, they planned to fell it with a chainsaw. Witnesses reported that Graham recorded the whole incident with his cell phone while Carruthers wielded the chainsaw. Their actions have been met with international outcry, with one onlooker, Kevin Hartness, calling it “disgusting conduct.” While the tree fall was a product of careless planning, the execution of that plan was precise. Court documents show they didn’t just get lucky—they came at the job with lots of knowledge and a serious, but strategic mindset.
At trial, the jury heard that Graham and Carruthers first painted the intended cut on the tree in silver spray paint. They then cut a wedge that defined which way they wanted the tree to fall. They then made a series of cuts across the trunk, bringing the great sycamore crashing down onto Hadrian’s Wall. To ensure their exit, the tree was purposely dropped to add an additional layer to their plan.
“By sunrise on Thursday September 28, the tree had been deliberately felled with a chainsaw in an act of deliberate and mindless criminal damage.” – Prosecutor Wright
Later, after the act, Graham allegedly sent the video from his cellphone to Carruthers. He wrote of this gesture as an indicator of his pride in what they had accomplished. Carruthers even took Hartness’ criticism about their treatment of the public with the cavalier attitude that one would expect from them.
“That Kevin Hartness comment. Weak … fucking weak? Does he realise how heavy shit is?” – Daniel Graham
“I’d like to see Kevin Hartness launch an operation like we did last night … I don’t think he’s got the minerals.” – Adam Carruthers
The strong evidence of their collusion in the crime was emphasized by the prosecution. Wright stressed that it is indisputable evidence. He said, Carruthers and Graham had each confessed to the intentional felling of the tree and defacement of Hadrian’s Wall.
Formerly close friends, the new public enemy number one and two seem to have done irreparable damage to their relationship after the fallout of their combined actions. Wright noted this transformation, saying, “That once close friendship has seemingly completely unraveled, perhaps as the public revulsion at their behaviour became clear to them.”
The lawsuit in court goes on as both men have pleaded not guilty to the criminal damage charges. Their only defense is to try to persuade the jury that they didn’t do it on purpose. They must demonstrate that they lacked any reasonable expectation of future legal liability for their conduct.
Public reaction has been almost universally unfavorable as people have rightly been shocked that anyone could decide to riot in the face of huge property destruction. Wright commented on this societal response:
“They are loving it, they’re revelling in it. This is the reaction of the people that did it. They still think it’s funny, or clever, or big.”
The destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree represents an extraordinary loss. It has sparked a renewed national discussion about environmental responsibility and respect for the natural world. Legal action is in progress, and their results could determine the future behavior. It remains unknown whether justice will prevent all such reckless transgressions in the future, as well.