[bayleaf]

I find the destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrians Wall by a 16 year old boy a bit of a metaphor for the times in which we live. What do others think?

[Goosegirl]

I saw it just now on the news but missed who'd done it. Personally I'd make a temporary set of gallows, hang draw and quarter him then leave him to dangle.  On a more rational note, is it me or did the cut surface of the trunk look heart-shaped? If so, it would be good to make something to remember it by, so why not use the felled wood to create a circular bench to go round the stump then somehow fashion a heart-shaped memorial of some sort and fix it onto the top of the stump. Only true traditional woodworkers need apply and, to attach it to the stump, my vote goes to Nev the blacksmith extraordinaire who sometimes does work for Drew Pritchard on the show "Salvage Hunters; the restorers." That man has a talent beyond belief, and is so in tune with nature that some things he's created has made me shed a tear or two.

[Lardman]

When the destruction of century old landmark is the least troubling news of the day I think it's pretty obvious it's time to start looking for lighthouse operator jobs on uninhabited islands.

[Aunt Sally]

Worzel knows a bit or two about tree felling and from what he saw on the news it was a very professionally done job.  As for the young man’s vandalistic moral attitude, that’s a totally different issue - 300years community service would get my vote.

[AndyRVTR]

Moronic.. thats all!!
Apparently from what I read earlier the tree may grow back by coppicing from new shoots, but it will never be the same again.

[Aunt Sally]

Someone has “Gorilla planted” a new sycamore tree.  Good for them !

The National Trust say they are going to remove it 

[mumofstig]

Someone has “Gorilla planted” a new sycamore tree.  Good for them !

The National Trust say they are going to remove it 

I'm sure they'd rather wait for the original to regenerate, it just needs some patience.

[Goosegirl]

That's not the point. The sapling looks like a well-planted job and should be either left where it is or moved nearby. That was a very thoughtful and kind thing to do and should be respected as such.

[New shoot]

That's not the point. The sapling looks like a well-planted job and should be either left where it is or moved nearby. That was a very thoughtful and kind thing to do and should be respected as such.

Well that is one opinion, but to say leave the original tree to regenerate is another and certainly just as valid.

Personally I hope the tree regrows as a twin trunk in a V shape, just to let the idiot that cut it down know that nature can outwit them any old time it chooses 

[JayG]

This type of act is usually described as mindless vandalism, but I believe the perpetrators are actually minded to enjoy damaging or destroying other people's property, knowing full well what upset it will cause (in that sense whoever did it presumably thinks he's hit the jackpot.  )

If it goes to court and the perpetrator is found guilty, I would recommend a sentence of at least 300 hours of intensive community tree-planting!

[Subversive_plot]

Regarding the new tree planted, I understand the position of the National Trust, event though I am sure the "guerrilla planters" meant well. If the stump sprouts a new scion, does that tree get to remain, and the new one cut down? Or vice-versa?  Does planting the tree potentially disturb buried historic artifacts that are near the wall? Also, does it open the door to people planting anything they want at other historic sites or landmarks? 

I'm reminded of a recent case in Texas where vandals scratched graffiti into a stone cliff wall containing petroglyphs thousand of years old (site on public land). Professionals painstakingly did what they could to preserve what remained, far better than to have well-meaning amateurs try to remove the damage.

[Goosegirl]

I get your point SP and well said.