Sycamore Gap

[Bumble]

Why, just why, would someone take a chainsaw to this iconic tree? Something that cheered many an aching heart over the years, yet someone felt so entitled that they happily took a chainsaw to it.

I am so sad it's gone, even sadder at the state of our world right now.

[yoonited]

This is on my doorstep, last night I was playing pool on the very table Kevin Costner played pool on whilst he was staying here when Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves was being filmed (the tree was featured in the film). Thousands of tourists came to see it every year, but sadly the tree has been lost (they must have chosen to carry this out on a windy night hoping that people would think it had been blown down). Thank goodness we have all the red squirrels for all the tourists to come and see.

[Chauncey]

It doesn’t suprise me one bit that the Cumbrians managed to jump onto the Robin Hood Prince of Thieves bandwagon of the day and my only surprise is that well known Nottingham actor with his Nottingham accent isn’t portrayed looking for squirrels in the film
It’s always puzzled me when Robin Hood arrives in Dover he states that he will be having supper with his father by tonight (presuming using the newly built M1) he takes a detour via Hadrian’s Wall and “Robins gap” but it’s all making sense now

[yoonited]

16 year old toe rag has been arrested, I'd chop the tw@t in half with a chainsaw.

[sandpit]

With yoonited with the windy night thoughts,just pure destruction for the hell of it nothing better to do.Most folk know the great Acer and thats why it was chosen i suspect,anyhow someone arrested but is of little consolation now that its gone.

[Chauncey]

If the tree meant so much to Cumbrians and the lad is local then he’s really stupid to have cut it down,his face will be plastered everywhere on the news and online if found guilty and will stick with him for years

[Bumble]

At 16 most of us did some crazy, stupid things. Maybe the lad is a bad lot, maybe he just thought it was a clever stunt and didn't realise the significance of the tree. Either way, I wouldn't have given a 16year access to a chainsaw and rather doubt he walked there from home with it strapped to his back. If he had a lift you would have imagined the driver would have noticed.

I had a friend who had his ashes scattered there many years ago, long before the film. It was known and loved well before Robin Hood. While it was a symbol of Northumberland it was also a symbol of the Wall and of wild places, and a place of calm.

[sandpit]

Reckon who ever done it would see which way the wind was blowing,then got on the windward side and started to cut hoping that the wind would do the rest because the tree was in full leaf.That way it would of ended with a jagged looking fracture as if wind damage.The tree was strong,it must have been to get that big.So they have had to go right through it to get it toppled.

[Chauncey]

I hope that the tree will be stored somewhere safe until they decide what to do with the wood,maybe raise money for local charities by selling artefacts made from it

[postmanpete]

Second man in his 60s arrested earlier,apparenty Irish police suspect it was tree fellas.