The Sycamore Gap Tree was planted in the late 19th century next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, England. The tree became famous when it was featured in the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. It became a popular tourist attraction and has been called "the most photographed tree in England." The sycamore even won the England Tree of the Year award in 2016. Then in September of 2023, someone cut it down in the middle of the night.
The British were enraged, and the story made international news. Eventually, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were arrested for the offense, which was charged as "criminal damage." The case was elevated to the High Court due to the publicity, but it seemed strange because that court normally deals with only the most heinous crimes, and many of those involved couldn't really see what this offense was. The trial was a circus, the defendants weren't at all believable, and some elements of the crime seemed to come directly from Grimm's Fairy Tales. Read about the bizarre aftermath of the death of a tree at Harpers. -via Nag on the Lake
(Image credit: Gordon Leggett)
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