Two men have been charged with cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, six months after the felling made headlines around the world.
The tree, which stood for more than 200 years in the Northumberland National Park next to the Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO World Heritage site in northern England, was found fallen in September 2023.
Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, have been charged with criminal damage over the felling of the tree and causing criminal damage to Hadrian’s Wall, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.
They will appear before magistrates in Newcastle on May 15, it added.
Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney, the Senior Investigation Officer in the case, said: “There has been an ongoing investigation since the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down.
“As a result of those inquiries, two men have now been charged.
“We recognise the strength of feeling in the local community and further afield the felling has caused, however we would remind people to avoid speculation, including online, which could impact the ongoing case.”
Mr Graham and Mr Carruthers were arrested in October and released on bail, according to The Sun.
Devastated locals previously expressed their “outrage” over the felling of the tree – one of the UK’s most photographed.
The crown of the tree was discovered lying partly on the ancient Roman fortification, which stretches 118km from coast to coast
Farmer Katie Smith, 25, said she spotted the tree on its side as she passed it on her way to work on Thursday morning.
“I drive past the tree twice a day and I always look up at it but today I just saw it was gone,” she said.
“It’s an absolute tragedy. No one can believe it has been cut down”.
Andrew Benton, 45, said, “I’m outraged that someone has done this to such a beautiful tree. What the hell is the world coming to?”
The landmark sycamore, located in a dramatic dip in the landscape, became internationally famous when it was used for a scene in the 1991 blockbuster film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.
It won the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year in 2016 and was a key attraction that has been photographed by millions of visitors over the years.
Efforts are now under way to see if the tree can be regrown from its stump or by using saplings from its seeds.
Hadrian’s Wall was begun in 122 AD during the reign of emperor Hadrian, and marked the boundary between Roman Britannia and unconquered Caledonia to the north.