Two men charged over felling of Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall

Two men have been charged with causing criminal damage following last year’s felling of the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland.

Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, will appear in court next month, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

The muchphotographed tree, which stood next to Hadrian’s Wall for 200 years, was chopped down in September, causing a national outrage.

Gary Fothergill, specialist prosecutor for CPS North East’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Northumbria Police to charge Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers with causing criminal damage after the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down last September.

“They have also been charged with causing criminal damage to Hadrian’s Wall and will appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on May 15 2024.”

Northumbria Police made a number of arrests in the wake of the felling, which happened overnight on September 27 to 28. A teenager and man in his 60s were later both told that they will face no further action.

The two men who have been charged, from the Carlisle area, were originally arrested last October, Northumbria Police said.

The National Trust, which owns the land on which the tree stood, said it was hopeful the sycamore will live on after scientists found that salvaged seeds and cuttings are showing positive signs of being viable for new growth.

The charity announced that it is hopeful more than 30% of the mature seeds and half of the cuttings it collected from the tree’s remains will be viable.

Investigations are still ongoing into the tree felling.