Sycamore Gap vandalism

[Ken Rennie]

On Thursday night at least 2 people took a chainsaw to this beautiful Sycamore tree on Hadrian's Wall. This location is approx 15miles East of my home and one of my favourite places to go for a walk. A 60 yr old man and a 16yr old boy have been arrested but no reason for their actions have come out. It probably hasn't hit American media but made front page news here. I was planning to capture the scene with Autumn colours but I will now need to find another lone tree although I am unlikely to find such a perfect location. Ken

 

[AlanLichty]

Actually it did hit the media on our side of the pond. Entirely senseless and sad - it was a beautiful landmark.

 

[MonikaC]

That's so sad. And senseless. I'm glad you were able to photograph it before.

 

[Jordan Marsh]

Saw it on Reddit the other day, very sad and frustrating news. I photographed the tree about 8 years ago, very pleasant a peaceful hiking area. People like to continually remind us why we can't have nice things.

 

[JimFox]

Thanks Ken for the sad update. I had no idea. Maybe I am not as well read as Alan and Monika, so thanks for sharing this.

I am glad they caught the people responsible, but what a truly sad event. That true may be located in the UK, but as a photographer and well, just as a human being it saddens me to no end how anyone could purposely destroy a tree that has brought joy to so many thousands or even millions of people.

Sadly the punishment is probably going to end up being a slap on the wrist. Maybe the government can put a very high price tag on the value of that tree and stick these 2 in prison for a good 20 years or so.

 

[dan swiger]

Wow, what a loss! What on earth could you have a reason to do such a thing! Drugs & alcohol??

 

[ProCaliberTraveler]

I heard about it on Reddit too. Toss em off a cliff!

 

[BlackRockArt]

Ken, we all heard the news. My first reaction was: what the hell ?! At least they caught the perps, I hope they get punished for the senseless crime.

Oliver

 

[ckcarr]

It's unbelievable how some people think these days. Of course, we get varying degrees of vandalism here all the time, but the tree is irreplaceable, 300-400 years old.

 

[Beth]

i read about it a day or two ago. absolute idiocy.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

That makes me sick. When I was at Moraine Lake the rock pile looked like Times Square on New Year's Eve. People were posing for Selfies everywhere. The guy who invented the selfie stick should be incarcerated.

 

[JimFox]

Ken, any update on the motive behind the two morons who cut down the tree?

 

[Ken Rennie]

Ken, any update on the motive behind the two morons who cut down the tree?

No Jim.