Sycamore Gap tree verdict

ronib

I read there is to be a mental health assessment before sentencing in July. I wonder why such a report hadn’t been submitted as evidence before the verdict?

Possibly because they pleaded not guilty ...

They didn't just try to kill the tree, they destroyed a whole ecosystem living in it. Idiots.

Does everything that anyone does have to be attributed to a mental health condition? I despair.

I agree, a senseless stupid act. But I think the men should be made to do community service rather than go to prison - maybe planting trees for example. Plus I wonder how many ancient, beautiful and important trees were felled to make way for the disastrous HS2 scheme? Anyone held responsible for those acts of vandalism? 🤔

Good idea

A few years ago, two young men took a BBQ onto the moor. It inadvertently set fire to the moor. They couldn't put the fir out so they reported it. straight away. I have great pictures from my from door of the fire, helicopter with water buckets and firemen. Quite frightening A large area of moor was burnt. Nesting birds killed. and fences burnt down.. The land owner asked the court that they given community orders. They were required to reseed heather and reinstate fences which took a long time and hard work. Everyone agreed that it was a better alternative than a custodial sentence or fine.
There are lots of things to consider and balance in sentencing.

It was 100 years old though ... & apparently had great sentimental value ..the site of many marriage proposals & cremation ashes as well as being an actual "landmark" . Insensitive laddish gobshites is probably an accurate mental assessment .. bet they just thought it would be a "laugh" ..thats why they have no actual "reason".

knspol

Mindless act by a couple of morons but really people commit much worse crimes, harming people and property and don't get prison sentences.
I like vegansrock idea of community service to plant trees.

It was mine.

Just saying 😁

Grantanow

I doubt the SNP can plant 1,700 trees a day for the next 20 years.

The people building the wind farms are supposed to be doing the offsetting, not the Scottish National Party.

Mindless act by a couple of morons but really people commit much worse crimes, harming people and property and don't get prison sentences.
I like vegansrock idea of community service to plant trees.

I doubt the SNP can plant 1,700 trees a day for the next 20 years.

Apparently compensatory measures are in place to plant the equivalent nu,ber of trees elsewhere.

I did say I thought appropriate punishment for these two, now convicted of criminal damage, would be to spend a few years of compulsory tree planting. Perhaps an intensive course on Roman history in Britain, including a course on Roman wall building might be appropriate, too, so they can rebuild that part of Hadrian's Wall which they damaged.

Of course it was an act of vandalism which a local magistrates court could have deal with.

For a sense of proportion bear in mind that about 16 million trees have been chopped down on publicly owned land in Scotland to make way for wind farms, an SNP 'achievement' of about 1,700 trees per day according to a Telegraph report of information disclosed by the SNP Rural Affairs Minister.

MayBee70

Allira

MayBee70

I can’t help but feel that famous people that have been given seeds from the tree must have inwardly groaned at the thought of how they would have to keep on top of the many seedlings that would start sprouting up on their properties in the future. Probably best to keep them in a pot ( like mint or bamboo).

We'd be like a forest here - sycamores, oaks, beech, hazel, holly etc.

The thing is, weeds (including tiny trees) are only weeds when they're in the wrong place 🙂

Or if they're not indiginous [sp] and pose a threat to native plants?

Oh, that Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam!

Allira

MayBee70

I can’t help but feel that famous people that have been given seeds from the tree must have inwardly groaned at the thought of how they would have to keep on top of the many seedlings that would start sprouting up on their properties in the future. Probably best to keep them in a pot ( like mint or bamboo).

We'd be like a forest here - sycamores, oaks, beech, hazel, holly etc.

The thing is, weeds (including tiny trees) are only weeds when they're in the wrong place 🙂

Or if they're not indiginous [sp] and pose a threat to native plants?

Oreo

It seems to be the most pointless thing ever doesn’t it? I can think of worst crimes tho.

Yes indeed Oreo.

MayBee70

I can’t help but feel that famous people that have been given seeds from the tree must have inwardly groaned at the thought of how they would have to keep on top of the many seedlings that would start sprouting up on their properties in the future. Probably best to keep them in a pot ( like mint or bamboo).

We'd be like a forest here - sycamores, oaks, beech, hazel, holly etc.

The thing is, weeds (including tiny trees) are only weeds when they're in the wrong place 🙂

Sycamores kill horses as well

I can’t help but feel that famous people that have been given seeds from the tree must have inwardly groaned at the thought of how they would have to keep on top of the many seedlings that would start sprouting up on their properties in the future. Probably best to keep them in a pot ( like mint or bamboo).

Well, as to perpetuating that tree, one sycamore seedling is the same as any other. I don't think there have been any moves to sell or distribute the Sycamore Gap seedlings, and agree that would be pointless. Has anybody seriously suggested this?

MaizieD

^I believe the tree is regenerating and many more will be grown from it.^

Sycamore is a non native arboreal equivalent of a weed. I destroy thousands of sycamore seedlings every spring. Why on earth would we want more deliberately propagated? This is ridiculous sentimentality.

They ooze a horrible sap that goes all over your washing, car etc. And their seeds are poisonous to dogs I believe. They spread like wildfire, too.

I'm afraid I pull up hundreds of these each year.
They are not at all the same as a mature tree!

Whitewavemark2

I have a rogue sycamore sapling growing in the garden - it has to be removed as it is in the entirely wrong place, but so far I haven’t the heart😦

Why don't you send it up to Northumberland Whitewavemark?.😚

I have a rogue sycamore sapling growing in the garden - it has to be removed as it is in the entirely wrong place, but so far I haven’t the heart😦

vintage1950

A sycamore in that isolated position is doing no harm to anybody. A sycamore in a small suburban garden is bad news. I think you are looking at this tree from the point of view of someone with a small garden with buildings close by. It isn't sentimentality - that tree was a beautiful thing.

I was looking at it from the point of view of someone who has far more trees than people who have 'suburban gardens with buildings close by. We have oak, ash, alder, birch, sycamore, hazel, wild cherry, maple, hawthorn etc. I love trees, too.

What I am objecting to is the belief that the offspring of one tree should be extensively perpetrated for purely sentimental reasons.