Two men were sentenced to four years and three months in prison for illegally cutting down the Sycamore Gap tree.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, both from Cumbria, were each convicted of two counts of criminal damage in May and sentence was passed today.
Reacting to the verdict, The Tree Council said: “We are pleased the legal system responded and secured a conviction for the mindless destruction of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree – but what we have lost, we will never get back.
“This is a symbolic case that will set a clear marker for the future. The strong custodial sentence sends the right message.
“Our trees are a precious resource with a lifespan that exceeds our own – we are their custodians. This case shows they are all vulnerable and need and deserve our support and protection”
“The Tree Council is calling for greater protections and support for our socially, culturally and environmentally important trees – our report, developed with partners and published earlier this year, revealed the legal gaps.
“Our trees are a precious resource with a lifespan that exceeds our own – we are their custodians. This case shows they are all vulnerable and need and deserve our support and protection.
“We urge the government to act on The Tree Council recommendations, and not wait for another well-loved, irreplaceable tree to be lost forever.”
You can find out more about The Tree Council and Forest Research report into protections for important trees, like the Sycamore Gap tree, here: https://treecouncil.org.uk/science-and-research/valuing-and-protecting-important-trees-outside-woodlands/
MORE: Sycamore Gap Tree: What it tells us about the connection between humans and trees – The Tree Council
