Prosecutors in England say two men have been charged with cutting down the popular 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian’s Wall.

Two men have been charged with cutting down the popular 150-year-old Sycamore Gap tree next to Hadrian’s Wall last year in northern England, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, were charged with causing criminal damage and damaging the wall built in A.D. 122 by Emperor Hadrian to guard the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire.

They were ordered to appear in Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on May 15.

The sycamore’s majestic canopy between two hills made it a popular subject for landscape photographers. It became a destination after being featured in Kevin Costner’s 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.”

  • Flying SquidMEnglish
    14•8 months ago

    Don’t forget the long-lasting human tradition of making sure everyone knew you were there by carving your name into something beautiful. Literally goes back thousands of years.

    • nickwitha_k (he/him)English
      2•8 months ago

      I think that this is a significant motivation. We humans want to feel that that we have impacted the world around us and left a lasting mark to show that we were here and that we mattered. In modern society, that is hard to accomplish because of how many are struggling and having to dedicate all of their time to jobs instead of connecting with the community and world around them.

      Naturally, this causes people to act out and do shitty things, from vandalizing unique rock formations and trees to mass shootings. I pose that much of that spectrum is rooted in the same alienation that people feel due to the pressures and situations caused by the mass polarization of wealth and lack of societal benefit from automation.