Men who cut down the sycamore in Sycamore Gap in court

I still can't fathom what their motive was for doing such a mindless act. I daresay there is little if any precedent to give us some idea of a punishment if they are found guilty. Pathetic excuses for human beings.

It is simply unbelievable that anyone would do something so dreadful. I don't understand it.

Are they wearing full masks in court? It shouldn't be allowed if they are.

There is a court drawing of them in the news pictures so we know what they look like I wonder what their thinking behind it was and why they felt that they needed to do that

They must know what mindless vandalism they committed and that everywhere they go they will be reviled. I think as there will no doubt be a small court punishment only, their faces should be exposed if they are proved guilty, and then they will live with the consequences every day.

Scum..🤬

The look totally unapologetic about it. Annoyingly they probably won’t get much of a sentence or a fine because what they’ve done is far far worse than what they’ve technically done ( if that makes sense) because you can’t actually put a price on it.

Shelflife

It is simply unbelievable that anyone would do something so dreadful. I don't understand it.

So dreadful?
One tree is all no matter how ‘iconic’ .Plymouth Council cut down masses of lovely trees in the city centre last year as did councils elsewhere and many big building companies.
I think this one particular tree is causing hysteria.

Casdon

They must know what mindless vandalism they committed and that everywhere they go they will be reviled. I think as there will no doubt be a small court punishment only, their faces should be exposed if they are proved guilty, and then they will live with the consequences every day.

OTT much?😄

I just saw the photos of them outside court. I think they are wearing something called a 'gimp mask'.

I am glad there was a court artist there because now we will know what they look like. I hope people will shun them.

Off on a diff subject but same as the " eat and dash couple" they were cocky enough to show their faces when they were stuffing their faces with free food, but on court day one wore a mask and the other tried to pull the hood down. "COWARDS"!

Anyone hiding behind a mask is a "COWARD"

Oreo

Shelflife

It is simply unbelievable that anyone would do something so dreadful. I don't understand it.

So dreadful?
One tree is all no matter how ‘iconic’ .Plymouth Council cut down masses of lovely trees in the city centre last year as did councils elsewhere and many big building companies.
I think this one particular tree is causing hysteria.

I have to admit that I have been thinking the same, but I thought I was alone.

As a nature-lover, I am very angry about what they have done, but don't think that the tree's 'fame' and the mass hysteria surrounding its felling really make this much worse than the wilful destruction of any other tree of comparable age and condition

Oreo is right. Round here swathes of oak trees have been felled for HS2 - it is absolutely heart wrenching. If I had felled one I would be (rightly) prosecuted. Sycamores are fast growing and not only that, the seed pods are fatally poisonous to many animals - this hysteria over one sycamore is ridiculous. I agree they shouldn't have done it but HS2 is causing real decimation of the landcape and nobody is held to account for it.

MayBee70

The look totally unapologetic about it. Annoyingly they probably won’t get much of a sentence or a fine because what they’ve done is far far worse than what they’ve technically done ( if that makes sense) because you can’t actually put a price on it.

Yes, it was priceless.
But there must be a suitable punishment.

Ignorant vandals.

Oreo

Shelflife

It is simply unbelievable that anyone would do something so dreadful. I don't understand it.

So dreadful?
One tree is all no matter how ‘iconic’ .Plymouth Council cut down masses of lovely trees in the city centre last year as did councils elsewhere and many big building companies.
I think this one particular tree is causing hysteria.

Yes, that was mindless vandalism too and I am hopping mad about that!!

It was the Council Leader Richard Bingley who ordered it.
100 trees felled but the new Labour Council plans to replace them with 200 trees.
Although they were old trees, not one was particularly iconic like the Sycamore Gap tree.

Granarchist

Oreo is right. Round here swathes of oak trees have been felled for HS2 - it is absolutely heart wrenching. If I had felled one I would be (rightly) prosecuted. Sycamores are fast growing and not only that, the seed pods are fatally poisonous to many animals - this hysteria over one sycamore is ridiculous. I agree they shouldn't have done it but HS2 is causing real decimation of the landcape and nobody is held to account for it.

In my opinion Oreo isn’t right, because this particular tree was drawing people from other parts of the UK and further afield to that location, it was a tourist attraction. Of course cutting down trees unnecessarily is wrong wherever they are, and maybe people should protest more about that than they do, but this was more than that, it was wanton destruction of an icon.

It’s how many people have heard of it, photographed it, photographed themselves next to it, travel specifically to a place to see it that determines what an iconic tree is - the only other one with that status that I can think of straight away is the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest.

If people were travelling from all over the place to see a tree and not there for Hadrians Wall or the lovely walks and scenery then they were idiotic.
It featured in a film, so what? I realise that local people will miss seeing it, and others may have fond memories of it, but come on people it’s just one tree, and the outrage and vitriol about the two men is on a par with a couple of serial killers.
I love trees too, who doesn’t and if they didn’t have a good reason to cut it down they should be fined, as should various Councils.

Well, I'd heard of the tree but didn't know it was in any film ....
Does that mean I'm only semi-idiotic?

Why? Did you travel there just to see a sycamore tree?

Having walked Hadrian's Wall last year the section called Sycamore Gap is one of the most stunning. Whichever way you arrive, east or west you are met with amazing views on your descent with the Sycamore eventually coming into view. Everyone stops for their photo, people from all parts of the world on the same journey. A fabulous meeting point. Families picnic too on the grass nearby, again a gathering point for many locals. I, like many miss that tree and I'm proud that once I was able to give it a hug, magnificent in all its glory. So sad. What mindless vandals these men are to have destroyed it.

There may have been a reason, may not have been mindless, I did wonder if they were the landowners who were tired of the picnicing and selfie takers there. Be interesting to see why.
Of course it could just have been a stunt or done for a bet.

Gone are the days when people tried to hide under coats or jackets now they stride with face masks or worse that awful full face covering! Once convicted they should have their photographs plastered all over the media no more cowardice shields.

If, guilty of course!