Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, have been found guilty of destroying the iconic Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall. The Tyneside-born director chose this famous tree, located alongside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland. This is what happened during Storm Agnes in the early morning hours of September 28, 2023. It horrified the country and earned global outrage for obliterating a place of cultural beauty.
The jury at Newcastle Crown Court took five hours to reach the unanimous verdict following an eight-day trial. The prosecution, led by Richard Wright KC, described the act as a “moronic mission” and characterized it as “the arboreal equivalent of mindless thuggery.” Exonerating Evidence Investigators discovered that Graham’s vehicle and phone were integral in the commission of the crime, proving Graham was innocent despite his police confession.
It’s accepted that Graham’s barrister, Andrew Gurney, made the best argument ever. He said that it made no sense for Graham to participate in the tree cutting less than a week after his partner brought home their newborn baby from the hospital. In Carruthers’ defense, he asserted that he was at his residence in Cumbria at the time of the events. He claimed that he was not even in the vicinity of that location.
The case became even more egregious when it was discovered that one of the men filmed the tree being cut down. He borrowed Graham’s iPhone to document the transgression. In court, Graham testified unequivocally that Carruthers had to have borrowed his car. He said all this unfolded while he was sleeping in his camper. Neither defendant offered a plausible justification for their behavior.
Superintendent Kevin Waring expressed disappointment over the incident, stating, “We often hear references made to mindless acts of vandalism – but that term has never been more relevant than today in describing the actions of those individuals. At no point have the two men given an explanation for why they targeted the tree – and there never could be a justifiable one.”
As luck would have it, the National Trust of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland—which is similar to the U.S. They’re now committed to leaving a lasting, positive legacy for the tree. The organization’s goal is to reach communities and heritage organizations with resources and inspiration to begin or continue their conservation work. This tragic incident has thrown a spotlight on the need for better protection of our significant trees across England.
Lady Young is doing more than just reacting to this incident and others like it. She has introduced a private member’s bill in the House of Lords to allow heritage trees to be listed. If enacted, this law would provide “a consistent level of protection, conservation and active stewardship” for thousands of significant trees nationwide.
The cutting down of the Sycamore Gap tree has understandably angered people around the country. This heartbreaking tragedy has struck a chord with people from all over the world. Richard Wright KC highlighted this sentiment during his closing remarks, noting, “Up and down the country and across the world, the reaction of all right-thinking people to the senseless felling of the Sycamore Gap tree has been one of sadness and anger.”