Knuckle-dragging oxygen-stealers strike again.

[RogerS]

Utterly brainless cretins.

Sycamore Gap is now Sycamore Stump :evil:



Felled overnight by morons unknown.

 

[Woodbloke]

Jeez Roger, hanging, drawing and quartering is too good for the perps that did that! - Rob

 

[HappyHacker]

The only thing I found amusing from such an act of vandalism was the statement made by someone in a responsible position in the news reports "we believe it was done deliberately"

I can just imagine some one wandering past with a large running chainsaw and accidentally tripping up and cutting it down.

It's absolutely disgraceful, it makes one wonder about the what is happening in the country. The daily reports of violence against people and property almost makes me glad I am not a youngster today.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

I have a cynical side....I wonder how much - above market value for Sycamore - the wood from that tree will fetch?

 

[AndyT]

I was lucky enough to see this tree in place just recently, but having seen it I am even more saddened and enraged that someone could have deliberately gone up onto the hills at night and done this.

I struggle to understand their motivation.

 

[AndyT]

I have a cynical side....I woner how much - above market value for Sycamore - the wood from that tree will fetch?

I don't think it will have any sort of ordinary commercial value - it will be almost impossible to get it down to a road. Maybe there will be some sort of local protest/fundraiser, cutting it up where it lies and reducing it to pieces small enough to be carried down by walkers.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

It's not that far off the Roman Road Andy. A good man in a Maniscopic or Manitou could have the bole down in two pieces/lifts, the major branches maybe three-four more. I do agree though, it would make more sense for a tractor to drag a Woodmizer or similar over to it and then planking would make the timber easier to extract.

 

[RogerS]

I was lucky enough to see this tree in place just recently, .....

And you didn't call in ?

 

[RogerS]

I was lucky enough to see this tree in place just recently, but having seen it I am even more saddened and enraged that someone could have deliberately gone up onto the hills at night and done this.

I struggle to understand their motivation.

Various ideas doing the rounds amongst the locals here as it's within spitting distance of us (15 minutes to be precise). Ranging from annoyed farmer with walkers, litter etc to someone having a bust-up with their wife/girlfriend and decding to cut down 'their' tree. It does look a good cut and certainly done by someone with (a) a larger chainsaw and (b) knw what they were doing. Guess that cuts the shortlist down to the odd thousand men up here!

News just in....a 16-year old boy has been arrested.

 

[Lons]

If the 16 year old did it he needs locking up and the key thrown away, in reality they're more likely to say he had a deprived childhood, maybe no-one bought him the newest 'phone. Cynical but I'm also enraged by the loss of a 200 year old iconic landmark.

My son is distraught, has spent many hours photographing that tree including camping overnight taking time lapse shots of the stars.

A truly shocking and senseless act which I didn't believe when I heard it on the radio this morning.

It did cross my mind earlier that you have a large one Roger - chainsaw that is. :lol:

 

[RogerS]

I wonder if it's a resultof one of those pathetically useless 'stunts' or whatever the proper name is for those pointless challenges on social media ...Dick Dock et al.

 

[Sheffield Tony]

If the 16 year old did it he needs locking up and the key thrown away, in reality they're more likely to say he had a deprived childhood, maybe no-one bought him the newest 'phone. Cynical but I'm also enraged by the loss of a 200 year old iconic landmark.

[youtubessl]zhstRrZzaso[/youtubessl]

 

[HOJ]

I only hope the timber can be used purposely, as they did with some of the salvaged timber, I think it was from the Mary Rose.

Probably end up on eBay.

 

[RogerS]

It was rather ironic that today the High Sheriff of Northumberland was present at a meeting at Hexham Police Station with the other High and Mighty to discuss .......rural crime !

 

[Phil Pascoe]

It made the ITV news.

 

[AndyP]

I feel guilty about making light of this but was the suspect apprehended by the Special Branch?

 

[RogerS]

Twice Brewed pub is offering a £1500 bar tab for information leading to a conviction. It features the tree as part of its logo.

 

[AndyP]

I imagine that there are numerous tourist guides that feature that tree too not to mention the film location tours.

 

[RogerS]

So....the local grapevine that I'm privy to is well aware now as to who (as do I now but lips sealed) and where he lives. So I'm guessing that he'll be moving soon. Looks possibly that revenge was the (unjustified whatever the reason) main driver.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Looks possibly that revenge was the (unjustified whatever the reason) main driver.

For what? A teenage girl got stabbed in the neck because she spurned flowers (from a potential swain?); what the hell motivated this scrote to one bigger and use a chain saw? Though, thankfully, not on a human.

 

[Woodbloke]

I mentioned to SWIMBO last night whilst watching Ch4 news that the stump ought to be removed asap and a new sycamore planted as close as possible to the old one, bearing in mind that I don't think it's possible to plant in exactly the same spot as the ground remains fairly acid.

I was thinking about one of those machines with four giant 'claws' that go into the ground and completely engulf the root ball on a smaller tree, say with a 150mm dia trunk. I believe this is how landscape gardeners are able to plant fairly largeish specimens. It wouldn't be the same as the old one, but at least there'd be a new tree growing on the site.

Meanwhile for the little scrote that chopped down the original tree I'd get him to remove the stump....just using a pick, shovel, mattock etc - Rob

 

[Sheffield Tony]

It might be a bit close to an ancient monument to send in with heavy machinery. The park authority (and my tree surgeon friend) are thinking it might regrow from the stump coppice style. Won't look quite the same again though, but at least it would be the same tree.

 

[flying haggis]

Meanwhile for the little scrote that chopped down the original tree I'd get him to remove the stump....just using a pick, shovel, mattock etc - Rob

small hand trowel is all I would give the scrote.

And the usual high standard of journalism? from the gruaniad covered it thus....

"Photographs taken on Thursday morning show it appears to have been sawed at the base of the trunk with a chainsaw."

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Did you expect better from The Gruinard? :lol:

 

[RogerS]

It might be a bit close to an ancient monument to send in with heavy machinery. The park authority (and my tree surgeon friend) are thinking it might regrow from the stump coppice style. Won't look quite the same again though, but at least it would be the same tree.

It will regrow. Quite a few examples across the web being posted here and there.

 

[RogerS]

Meanwhile for the little scrote that chopped down the original tree I'd get him to remove the stump....just using a pick, shovel, mattock etc - Rob

small hand trowel is all I would give the scrote.

And the usual high standard of journalism? from the gruaniad covered it thus....

"Photographs taken on Thursday morning show it appears to have been sawed at the base of the trunk with a chainsaw."

N.S.S !!

 

[Woodbloke]

Meanwhile for the little scrote that chopped down the original tree I'd get him to remove the stump....just using a pick, shovel, mattock etc - Rob

small hand trowel is all I would give the scrote.

That's a a bit harsh FH :lol: Even with just a pick, shovel and mattock etc and working entirely on his own, getting a stump that size out the ground is likely to be the hardest bit of physical work the little bar steward will do or is ever likely to do in his entire life :lol: - Rob

 

[MattS]

I’ve felt a bit uncomfortable about the coverage of this, everyone is commenting and sharing it on various platforms. It’s really sad and I understand why people feel a connection and it invokes so much emotion. Just wish there was the same amout of indignation for treatment of nature as a whole. Report this week of species loss is truly horrifying.

Anyway saw this which sums up my feelings

 

[John Brown]

Now I see a man in his sixties is implicated. Who knows, someone on this forum might be acquainted with the perpetrator. Someone who seems perpetually angry at the world...

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I thought the neat felling suggested it wasn't a sixteen year old.

 

[Malc2098]

Rumour control suggests it's someone kicked out of farm and campsite due to NT putting up restrictions to protect the area.

 

[RogerS]

Rumour control suggests it's someone kicked out of farm and campsite due to NT putting up restrictions to protect the area.

Not a farm per se but a house where his family rented. The rental agreement was between the owners and his father. When his father died, as per common practice, the lease did not pass automatically on to the children. But the owners wanted him out but agreed to an extension while he found a place to live. That was 13 years ago and one could say that the owners were very charitable...nay, one could say 'Christian '. So all the 'poor little me' crap the bloke is giving out is just that.

He set up (illegally) the campsite on NT land ...in Allan Gorge, although quite why they let it drag on so long is not clear. But there is a motive as it looks as if the NT have developed a 'pair'.

The 16 year old is a known scrote with a track record. He had a job with the Parks but was going to be sacked. He stuck up on his Facebook page " If you sack me I will chop down the sycamore at the Gap".

Who knows....was it him..perfectly feasible as he has his chainsaw qualification. And let's face it, WTF else is there up here but chop down trees so he has the experience. Or was it our 68 year old ? Or someone else? Or the two of them ? One awaits further news from the 'rather well informed' grapevine'

 

[the bear]

I have just seen a copy of todays Sunday times which basically states same as Roger above. It actually names names which I find surprising
Mark

 

[RogerS]

I have just seen a copy of todays Sunday times which basically states same as Roger above. It actually names names which I find surprising
Mark

Pretty good article although the words suggest Renwick is the victim re the eviction when he had 13 years to find an alternative home!

The other comment by a relative of Renwivks that he's got two leaky valves in his heart and so couldn't lift the chain saw...true but he's fit enough to drive a car containing a 16 year old perhaps ? He reminds me of TOAS's attitude.

 

[Blackswanwood]

I see the fallen tree is now being taken away and it is planned to keep the truck intact at this stage while it is decided how it is best used ...


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-67087497

 

[RogerS]

The forensics are interesting. They're trying a two-prong approach. First is to investiate the viability of using tree DNA .

Second is to try and find chainsaw oil residue on the stump/trunk and then analyse it. Apparently, over time various oils get used, even old engine oil, and that gives a cocktail that can be analysed and compared with, say, chainsaws in the possession of any suspects.

 

[Cabinetman]

Hmm, chainsaws that were in the possession of suspects perhaps.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Apparently, over time various oils get used, even old engine oil, and that gives a cocktail that can be analysed

Not so much D.N.A. as G.C.A....?

Gas Chromatogaph Analysis.

 

[Trevanion]

Second is to try and find chainsaw oil residue on the stump/trunk and then analyse it. Apparently, over time various oils get used, even old engine oil, and that gives a cocktail that can be analysed and compared with, say, chainsaws in the possession of any suspects.

If I recall that's how they nailed that bastard (I would use a softer word usually, but not for this one) Mick Philpott that set his house on fire with his kids inside, the petrol that was poured through the letterbox exactly matched the petrol that was in Philpott's own petrol can or something along those lines.

 

[RogerS]

Two men have now been charged and will appear at The Magistrate's Court May 15th.

Two men charged in connection with the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree

TWO men have been charged in connection with the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.

www.newsandstar.co.uk

Wonder if the forensic research the police were doing on the fuel or chain oil in their chainsaws came through ?