Sycamore Gap Tree Felling: Men Sentenced to Prison, Debate Over Punishment and Motivations
Two British men, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, have been sentenced to four years and three months in prison for felling the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland National Park. The men were convicted of criminal damage for destroying the tree and damaging Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The felling of the nearly 150-year-old tree, which gained fame from its picturesque setting and appearance in the film *Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves*, caused widespread outrage. Despite their denials and claims of being elsewhere, evidence including video footage and vehicle data implicated both men, leading to their conviction and sentencing.
John Q. Hosedrinker