Sycamore Gap

nanasam

Just heard they've arrested a 16 yo boy for cutting it down

A 16yo surely wouldn’t be acting alone? Presumably an electric saw would have had to be taken to the site in some form of transport - unless they were also underage driving

It was a very professional job for a 16 year old. Nice clean cut, didn't fall on him... I suspect that he wasn't alone when it was done.

I cannot imagine why anyone should do such a senseless thing.

However, sycamores are one of the weeds of the tree world and very fast growing. I'm sure it will be replaced.

What is wrong with some parents? 16-year-old suspected of cutting down the sycamore, 17- and 13-year-olds suspected of arson in Ayr, children starting school without being toilet-trained and violence in schools from Primary 1 upwards. How are “normal” children supposed to cope?

I know there are terrible things happening in the UK but this has incensed me. I hope he get locked up if he’s done this. Absolutely sickening and just pure vandalism.

This is just dreadful, vandalism.

I wondered if the Plymouth City Council leader Richard Bingley had been at it again - that vandal who ordered the felling of all the old trees in Plymouth Armada Way not long ago.

I hope they catch whoever did this.

Yes, sycamores are 'weeds' and aren't actually native trees but were probably brought by the Romans. But it was still an act of sheer vandalism.

One person couldn't manage it alone, surely!

We're losing enough trees through disease without felling healthy ones.

Even I as a softie southerner know this tree (L J across book). How dreadful this is.

I wasn't trying to excuse it, Callistemon. I think it was a dreadful thing to do.

But a substitute will grow fast to fill the gap.

(I could supply a seedling or 500 or so.. Though I think an oak tree would be better... )

They weren't introduced to Britain before the 16th C apparently. When our local Wildlife Trust took over a wood a few years ago they cut down all the sycamores because they're not 'native' trees...

One of my favourite trees. I have so many memories of that section of the Path, in good and bad times, including a friend and I determinedly yomping through a snowy freezing winter’s day to mourn my dad.

I’m gutted.

It's so senseless, isn't it? Why would anyone do that, never mind a 16 year old, and I agree with those saying it seems unlikely that he acted alone.

MaizieD

I wasn't trying to excuse it, Callistemon. I think it was a dreadful thing to do.

But a substitute will grow fast to fill the gap.

(I could supply a seedling or 500 or so.. Though I think an oak tree would be better... )

They weren't introduced to Britain before the 16th C apparently. When our local Wildlife Trust took over a wood a few years ago they cut down all the sycamores because they're not 'native' trees...

Yes, I could dig up a few as well.

They do grow quickly so let's hope it's replaced soon although it was an iconic symbol, not just a tree.

A fitting punishment would be for the culprit to be set to 20 years hard labour planting trees to help save the planet.

The Sycamore’s Lament
Do not weep for me
A sycamore tree
I knew this day would
Come
You who have visited me
Shared your love and grief with me
My roots are still here
Though my branches are gone.
Come and stand for a while
And you may still hear
The wind playing soft through my leaves
As the birds sing their song
Of an old tree’s lament
Where I stood over 200 years.
Everything changes
All beauty must die
Or wither and fade or decay
And man must destroy
What he loves most in the world
Through anger, or greed and dismay.
So do not forget me
A sycamore tree
A symbol of ancient folklore
Remember a place where a great tree once stood
Now a gap with a Sycamore
No more.
Gail Lawler 28/09/2023

We're just watching Harvest on the Farm, where they are demonstrating wooden spoon making and talking about Welsh Love Spoons.

I hope the wood from this tree can be used to create beautiful items such as spoons, bowls etc which could be sold so that people never forget this iconic tree.

Numerous ancient trees have been destroyed in the name of HS2 - legal vandalism. It’s all sickening. When will we respect the natural world?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202309/medium-184157-img-2154.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202309/medium-234551-img-2155.jpeg

Very sad

What a magnificent tree. Absolutely disgraceful doing this.

It is a terrible shame. I can't bear to hear of vandalism. Do they get a kick from it.

Such a potent image that tree has(d)

I detest whoever did this. Some serious punishment is needed.

Why did they do it? What a strange thing to do.

An act of ignorance and destruction. I hope he gets a serious punishment.

I often think we should revive that old fashionad punishment called the stocks, where the guilty party was locked up in a contraption so that the public could pelt them with refuse and rotten veggies. I guess social media is the modern equivalent.

I don’t believe a 16 year old did this alone it looks a very professional job, that’s a blooming big tree to fell it wouldn’t be done in 5 minutes either
Very very sad and so unnecessary
I wonder what the story is behind his need to destroy

Listening to an arborist on radio this morning he said, as I thought, no way would a 16 year old be able to do this it was cut by someone who knew how to cut trees he said it needed at last two people and a professional chainsaw It has been cut comp,geeky cleanly and the 16 year old is being used as a scapegoat
He believes the owner of the land knows what appended
Whoever it was I hope they are well punished

It is very sad to lose such an iconic tree but to imprison the lad would be ridiculous. I agree with community service

just wondering if they could just stand the tree up on top of the trunk, with supports for a little while,I know the tree is now dead,but would hate to see it just cut up on site,and it could be seen as it was for a little while,and I have never been to the location.