Famous Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian's Wall had been deliberately cut down

[Dr. Keith]

Just waiting for the "why".

It was a 16 yo boy. He could still be waiting for the why himself.

 

[arthwollipot]

In honor of the tree, the remaining wall should be torn down and more trees planted where it was! That should please the historical preservationists.

I guess it might stop the unsolicited Pict dicks.

 

[bluesjnr]

Few things can irk me as much as vandalism does. I can spend tens of minutes on end making up punishments that will teach vandals and all their fellow vandals, and they tend to be brutal, sadistic and life-changing.
Like I think the proper punishment for a grafiti sprayer is to invade their home and spray everything in it and all they own - their clothes, their car, all windows, their computer inside and out, then spray the sprayer, and empty the can into their eyes
That's for a painted commuter train.

When vandals damage or destroy historic monuments or national treasures, my fantasies are a lot more drastic.
I am currently thinking how the guy (it is a guy, of course; or group of guys) who cut this tree could be tormented and very slowly be rid of the will to live using the remains of this tree itself...

Channelling Fuelair?

 

[Mojo]

Surely they should repurpose the stones from the ineffectual wall to build a massive plinth in honor of the tree.

Many of them were repurposed for building farmhouses and barns centuries ago.

 

[The Don]

That's not what happened though. This tree was simply cut down.

True, but on the news last night someone who was involved in looking after the tree was hopeful that the tree could regrow from the stump.

If it's anything like our damson and plum trees then signs of regrowth could start appearing in a matter of days.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

... Thye have a small plague by it.

This sounds like an awesome old curse and suddenly I want a tee shirt with a medieval illumination style person saying it.

 

[smartcooky]

Channelling Fuelair?

Yeah. I miss Fuelair.

His tendency to be completely unfiltered as he said exactly what he thinks was refreshing. I'm surprised he lasted here as long as he did.

 

[Gulliver Foyle]

Sure, a wedge cut shows a bit more sophistication than cutting straight through with a chainsaw, but this is the kind of thing you can learn on the internet with a simple google search. I don't think it's inherently suspicious that a 16 year old could have figured that out on their own if they were motivated for whatever reason.

It's the size of the cut they had to make is the real giveaway. The trunk was too big to cut through with a chainsaw from your local B&Q.

 

[dann]

Why would anyone do this? Just to be an *******?

Isn't it usually a neighbor who thinks it spoils his view?
Sycamore Gap aka "Robin Hood Tree" (VirtualGlobetrotting)

 

[Carrot Flower King]

Being the UK, he will probably get off with a stern talking to by the judge.

That will be why our prisons and YOIs are full to the point of not being able to take any more...

 

[GlennB]

It's the size of the cut they had to make is the real giveaway. The trunk was too big to cut through with a chainsaw from your local B&Q.

I was thinking that too. Also, how did he get a big saw like that to the location? Drive illegally in a 'borrowed' car? Take the bus? He had to have had an accomplice or two.

 

[Jack by the hedge]

It's the size of the cut they had to make is the real giveaway. The trunk was too big to cut through with a chainsaw from your local B&Q.

It seems unlikely this started with a desire to cut down that tree and then turned to seeking out the means. Rather I'd imagine it started with access to the tools and know-how and then the target presented itself. Maybe something as dumb as the perpetrator knowing it would upset someone he wanted to lash out at, not thinking of all the other people it would distress.

 

[wobs]

Vandalising UK landmarks is not unknown:
https://weather.com/news/news/2018-06-15-vandals-destroy-brimham-rocks-england
A rock at Brimham Rocks was destroyed some years ago.

 

[sphenisc]

I'd really like to know why. What's to gain? Notoriety?

Also, I know nothing about tries, save how to climb them, but is there no way to save it? Trees often seem remarkably resilient, pushing out new roots when apparently completely dead? (I suspect I'm clutching at straws here)

That's not what happened though. This tree was simply cut down.

I don't know what distinction you're drawing, but I'm pretty sure the tree isn't aware of it.

 

[Lothian]

I was thinking that too. Also, how did he get a big saw like that to the location? Drive illegally in a 'borrowed' car? Take the bus? He had to have had an accomplice or two.

If a local farmers son, they probably jumped on a quad bike.

 

[Puppycow]

Just waiting for the "why".

Because he's a nasty little pillock.

They say pyromania is an impulse disorder. Maybe it is something like that:

What is pyromania?
Pyromania is an impulse disorder. People who have this disorder cannot resist an impulse to set fires, even though they know it is harmful. The urge makes them anxious, tense, or aroused. People with this disorder do not set fires for money, to express political beliefs, to hide signs of a crime, or to show anger. A person with pyromania feels a sense of relief or satisfaction when they set fires.

I could imagine a compulsion cut things down similar to the compulsion to set fires for pyromaniacs. There is not necessarily any sort of rationale or motive other than a feeling of satisfaction.

Although, it does seem like maybe that particular tree was chosen for a reason. If the only motive was to cut down trees, there might be easier targets than that particular one.

 

[JoeMorgue]

I'd really like to know why. What's to gain? Notoriety?

To get a reaction. Or to be more clear to get what they think is an "over reaction." Someone somewhere is right now getting their jollies off about how "over dramatic" people are being about a tree.

The dopamine hit people get from being horrible / defending the horrible so they can judge people for having an "over dramatic" reaction to it is a common one among the worst kind of people.

They are legit people out there who will (metaphorically.. most of the time) break your leg because that moment when they get to chastise you for reacting to your broken leg with .00000001% "drama" then they deem necessary is like an orgasm for them.

 

[Puppycow]

To get a reaction. Or to be more clear to get what they think is an "over reaction." Someone somewhere is right now getting their jollies off about how "over dramatic" people are being about a tree.

The dopamine hit people get from being horrible / defending the horrible so they can judge people for having an "over dramatic" reaction to it is a common one among the worst kind of people.

They are legit people out there who will (metaphorically.. most of the time) break your leg because that moment when they get to chastise you for reacting to your broken leg with .00000001% "drama" then they deem necessary is like an orgasm for them.

Yeah, a nasty little pillock. Whatever the reason, it's going to be a stupid one. Maybe just lashing out at the world. Just the other day some teenager stabbed a girl to death because he tried to give her flowers and she wouldn't take them. She was on her way to school.

 

[Carrot Flower King]

I was thinking that too. Also, how did he get a big saw like that to the location? Drive illegally in a 'borrowed' car? Take the bus? He had to have had an accomplice or two.

Serious answer is on foot or, as, Lothian suggests, quad bike. The road is a way away.

Less serious answers in ascending order of seriousness: horse, donkey, trail bike, mountain bike.

 

[Beerina]

You mean someone that accidentally lugged a chainsaw across the moor to a world famous landmark in the middle of the night, in a storm?

Work order: go cut down that tree marked with a painted ring.

I don't think that's the case, but it could be. And therefore painting the ring was either deliberate, or itself accidentally the wrong tree. Not likely anything but evil no matter the point.