This video explains the police investigation into the Sycamore Gap tree being felled on the 28th September 2023 and the two suspects now awaiting trial. They are called Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, from Cumbria.

Hadrians Wall was built around 1,900 years ago and it marks the Northern Frontier of the Roman Empire. It is of huge cultural and historical significance.

This tree sits on this UNESCO World Heritage Site, right next to Hadrians Wall and for this reason is afforded the highest protections, due to its historical interest and cultural attraction. The land belongs to the National Trust.

Other UNESCO sites include the Taj Mahal, Tower of London and many more.

Sycamore Gap is an area of global significance and interest, it drives tourism, boosts the local economy but is also a place where people lay ashes of their loved ones, make marriage proposals and find spiritual comfort. Thousands of people walk the length of the wall every year and come from all over the world.

Sycamore Gap (obviously named after the tree), is the centre of interest and fascination over the whole wall length and people travel from all over the world to see it. It is the 'Mecca' of the Hadrians Wall walk.

Claiming this is 'just a tree’, is a bit like someone stealing one of the Stonehenge stones and saying this is just about a quarry stone.

The information in this case has been derived from their appearance at Newcastle Magistrates Court on 15th May 2024, after several months of being on bail, pending the police investigation. Whilst at this hearing, the Prosecutor Rebecca Brown laid out the complexity of the case, including where expert evidence forms part of the prosecution case. This is elaborated on in the video.

This video is filmed in two locations; Newcastle Crown Court for their appearance on 12th June 2024 and at Sycamore Gap, the day before.

Both suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges of criminal damage but could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, due to the significant aggravating factors of the case and the fact they are forcing this case to trial.

If convicted, they will almost undoubtedly face a lengthy custodial sentence.