Felling of Sycamore Gap Tree Was ‘Deliberate and Mindless,’ Prosecutor Says

Two men mistakenly felled a historic Sycamore Gap tree near Hadrian’s Wall in 2023 after cutting it down with a chain saw, sparking outrage. The tree, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was found illegally cut in September 2023. Two defendants, Daniel Graham (39) and Adam Carruthers (32), both from Cumbria, are on trial for criminal damage after being discovered on a cellphone footage of the incident. The prosecution described their actions as a "moronic mission" and an act of deliberate and mindless criminal damage.