Charges have been brought against two men who, in September last year, under the cover of darkness, cut down the famous sycamore tree from Sycamore Gap in the Northumberland National Park in north-east England. The cutting down of the tree caused outrage and despair among the inhabitants of the Islands – Reuters reports.
It was one of the most photographed trees in Britain, known as the “Robin Hood tree”. It owed its popularity and name to its appearance in the film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” starring Kevin Costner.
The legendary sycamore tree grew in the middle of the famous Sycamore Gap, near Hadrian's Wall dating back to Roman times, in Northumberland Park.
This place, due to its natural and historical values, attracted crowds of tourists every year. Some got married under its branches, and still others scattered the ashes of their loved ones there – writes Reuters.
The tree was cut down in September last year.
Sycamore Gap Sycamore – one of the most photographed trees in BritainShutterstock/'The National Trust
They cut down the “Robin Hood tree”. They heard the charges
On Tuesday, English police charged 38-year-old Daniel Graham and 31-year-old Adam Carruthers. The men were accused not only of illegally cutting down the famous tree, but also of damaging Hadrian's Wall, which, like a natural monument, belongs to the National Trust, an English organization dealing with the protection of cultural heritage.
The men, who were arrested in October last year and released on bail, will appear in court in Newcastle on May 15, Reuters reports.
Only the trunk remained of the iconic tree, which was surrounded by a fence in the hope that the tree would grow back over time, the agency adds.
Main photo source: Shutterstock/'The National Trust