Gransnet forums

News & politics

Sycamore Gap tree verdict

(186 Posts)
vegansrock Fri 09-May-25 15:04:58

How those two lying scumbags had the nerve to plead not guilty despite all the evidence demonstrates their arrogance and stupidity. Let’s hope the judge throws the book at them.

Anniebach Sat 10-May-25 15:32:43

The poster I replied to said ‘there was nothing special about
the tree other than its age and where it grew’,
So chop down trees, pick flowers , ride motorbikes and quad
bikes through our national parks, all can be replaced

Allira Sat 10-May-25 15:34:41

Ilovedogs22

Yes mumofmadboys, it is time for commonsense. Social media & mass hysteria are turning people into a moronic gang of stupidity & encouraging a sense of communal, hysterical, overactive outrage!
The men were idiots not ruddy serial killers! 🤔

If some people do not care at all about trees, the environment, the history of this country ie Hadrian's Wall, then it's perhaps understandable that they think others are making an unnecessary fuss about the loss of this iconic symbol of the North-East.

Others do have these feelings and it's wrong to call them a moronic gang of stupidity just because they have soul.

NotSpaghetti Sat 10-May-25 15:38:28

You have to admit it was a perfect shape for the gap though, MayBee70

Wyllow3 Sat 10-May-25 15:38:47

Crossstitchfan

Ziplok

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?

Why am I not surprised by this?
It seems that it’s the go to excuse nowadays and makes a mockery of genuine mental ill health. People who are really suffering mental ill health need all the help they can get, but this band wagon element annoys me.

You are so right! ! I have been saying this for ages in previous posts (not just on here).

I wouldn't make too much of this frankly - it's a defense gambit.

"Yes, a defense council can request mental health reviews before sentencing, and the court is legally obligated to consider them"

Wyllow3 Sat 10-May-25 15:40:43

I do like the idea of replacing it with a fairly mature tree (with a great shape) with a plaque about its history.

MayBee70 Sat 10-May-25 15:40:58

Anniebach

The poster I replied to said ‘there was nothing special about
the tree other than its age and where it grew’,
So chop down trees, pick flowers , ride motorbikes and quad
bikes through our national parks, all can be replaced

What I meant was that it hadn’t been presented to the country by the King of Persia or planted by Queen Victoria. Of course it was special in it’s own way because it was a living thing of great age. And I cried when I heard of it’s destruction so don’t accuse me of not caring for it. I just think that planting another tree in its place would cheer people up. But feel free to misinterpret my motivation for saying what I did sad.

Oreo Sat 10-May-25 15:41:55

But you have to admit that taking selfies there since the tree featured in a film is in fact part of the outrage from some on SM sites.
I see that if you married there it would be a real blow of course.
I feel for all the trees felled by the moronic, including Councils and building firms who go in heavy when building estates and root out all lovely mature trees and shrubs that border the former fields.

Anniebach Sat 10-May-25 15:44:45

I don’t care who planted it, it grew there and was beautiful '
there are some of its roots there ,

Shinamae Sat 10-May-25 17:39:20

Pathetic individuals, I just feel sorry for their families particularly any children,can just imagine their lives at school…

Ilovedogs22 Sat 10-May-25 17:45:43

Oreo

But you have to admit that taking selfies there since the tree featured in a film is in fact part of the outrage from some on SM sites.
I see that if you married there it would be a real blow of course.
I feel for all the trees felled by the moronic, including Councils and building firms who go in heavy when building estates and root out all lovely mature trees and shrubs that border the former fields.

Yes Oreo, let's not forget about the mindless vandalism that is perpetrated by many local councils in the UK.
So many lovely trees cut down without any thought or care in the supposed name of progress & mass development.
Our once lovely country is being raped & pilaged,
God help all the the flora & fauna, not just one tree.
Our green and pleasant land will soon be no more. 🤔

Anniebach Sat 10-May-25 17:55:34

So why add another tree I speak as a member of a
moronic gang of stupidity

M0nica Sat 10-May-25 20:17:45

MayBee70

Anniebach

The poster I replied to said ‘there was nothing special about
the tree other than its age and where it grew’,
So chop down trees, pick flowers , ride motorbikes and quad
bikes through our national parks, all can be replaced

What I meant was that it hadn’t been presented to the country by the King of Persia or planted by Queen Victoria. Of course it was special in it’s own way because it was a living thing of great age. And I cried when I heard of it’s destruction so don’t accuse me of not caring for it. I just think that planting another tree in its place would cheer people up. But feel free to misinterpret my motivation for saying what I did sad.

It doesn't matter whether the tree had any specific associations and was formally planted. By pure luck it germinated and grew where it did neatly in the centre of that fold of the hills and would have become iconic whether it was planted by Queen Victoria or the Queen of Sheba.

People noticed it and its perfect setting, photographed it, proposed marriages, had picnics, it was known and recognised world wide - like Stonehenge.

Yes, another tree could be planted, but it will be 100 years or more before it will bear comparison with the tree that was deliberately cut down. In the meanwhile generations will see the original tree only in photos and it will always be remembered for the ugly deed and the ugly people who cut it down, rather than the happiness its presence borught so many people.

mumofmadboys Sat 10-May-25 20:18:06

What I found particularly difficult about this case was when it first happened and became a news item. The first item on the news was a young schoolgirl in London, Elianne Andam I believe, getting stabbed on her way to school by a teenager and dying from her injuries. The second item was the Sycamore tree. It took up a huge amount of coverage time - at least 3-4 times the amount of time devoted to the young girl. I wondered what her poor parents made of it .What do British people really value in life?

lemsip Sat 10-May-25 20:46:11

that depends on where and what time of day you get your news as to what order it comes in.

Witzend Sat 10-May-25 21:05:44

Franski

Wonder why they did it..?

According to what I’ve read, they did it ‘for a bit of a laugh’.
What a pair of thick, waste of space lowlifes.

Allira Sat 10-May-25 21:39:15

Ilovedogs22

Oreo

But you have to admit that taking selfies there since the tree featured in a film is in fact part of the outrage from some on SM sites.
I see that if you married there it would be a real blow of course.
I feel for all the trees felled by the moronic, including Councils and building firms who go in heavy when building estates and root out all lovely mature trees and shrubs that border the former fields.

Yes Oreo, let's not forget about the mindless vandalism that is perpetrated by many local councils in the UK.
So many lovely trees cut down without any thought or care in the supposed name of progress & mass development.
Our once lovely country is being raped & pilaged,
God help all the the flora & fauna, not just one tree.
Our green and pleasant land will soon be no more. 🤔

A tad over-dramatic.

More and more woodland is being planted in the UK although we are still falling short of targets.

Perhaps help by donating to help reach the target?
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/plant-a-tree?campid=PPC_Central_PaT_Generic-BAU_Google-Search-Plant-RSA-BAU-%C2%A310&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12712179797&gbraid=0AAAAACeAjvjH1orOfaW-aLEF7T0Wu_ywQ&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9eyZ2eCZjQMVr5FQBh3XgRkQEAAYASAAEgJswPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Anniebach Sat 10-May-25 21:43:44

👏👏👏 Allira

Ilovedogs22 Sun 11-May-25 11:30:18

mumofmadboys

What I found particularly difficult about this case was when it first happened and became a news item. The first item on the news was a young schoolgirl in London, Elianne Andam I believe, getting stabbed on her way to school by a teenager and dying from her injuries. The second item was the Sycamore tree. It took up a huge amount of coverage time - at least 3-4 times the amount of time devoted to the young girl. I wondered what her poor parents made of it .What do British people really value in life?

Yes, mumofmadboys, exactly!
There seems to be this mad, hysterical public reaction to the chopping down of "The Tree." It's so very infuriating that Elianne's tragic death should be such a low news priority.
The lunatics are taking over the asylum & people are becoming more shallow thanks to their obsession with Social media likes!
Social media lemmings pouring out their grief, ridiculous.
This is probably the only tree their aware of!
Blissfully unaware of all the healthy mature tress being cut down by local councils in the UK..🤔

Allira Sun 11-May-25 11:34:20

Another ridiculous post.

No-one is unaware of what is going on.

You are totally missing the point.

Allira Sun 11-May-25 11:38:39

Why call those who might have a different opinion on the felling of this tree such unpleasant names ilovecheese?

If you are referring to the felling of trees in Plymouth at night on the orders of that Leader of the City Council, I can assure you it enraged me as much (or even more) than this did.

Why not follow my link and support tree planting?

Anniebach Sun 11-May-25 11:42:30

Agree Allira I am upset about the Sycamore Gap Tree, and am aware of trees being chopped down for housing, new roads etc, the fact that two men saw a tree which wasn’t causing them
problems and cut it down for fun

Wyllow3 Sun 11-May-25 11:46:36

It's possible to feel passionate about many issues at the same time. This thread just happens to be about the sycamore tree and people's different reactions.

There is no reason at all we can't have threads or start threads about council tree cutting, re-wilding and planting, about increase in knife crime and what can be done.

MaizieD Sun 11-May-25 12:21:04

To those who are saying that the tree is regenerating from the stump please note that what regenerates won't be a single stemmed majestic tree. It will be thicket of stems (for the tree has been effectually coppiced) which will look more like a bush than a tree as they grow. This will fill the gap in a way, but never be so dramatic and iconic as the original tree.

I think MayBee's idea of replacing it with a fairly mature tree is fine. Sycamore grow very fast. But it could be problematical because of possible damage to Hadrian's Wall, which is right next to it, in the process.

Allira Sun 11-May-25 12:38:20

Wyllow3

It's possible to feel passionate about many issues at the same time. This thread just happens to be about the sycamore tree and people's different reactions.

There is no reason at all we can't have threads or start threads about council tree cutting, re-wilding and planting, about increase in knife crime and what can be done.

There is no reason at all we can't have threads or start threads about council tree cutting, re-wilding and planting, about increase in knife crime and what can be done.

And we do! 🙂

ronib Sun 11-May-25 12:39:18

Interesting point about the shrub shape of the coppiced tree so is it better to remove completely and replant? Or to retain the bush as a reminder of the history of its existence? Generations can then bewail the stupidity of the two vandals? Or start again?