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.