Sycamore Gap

[Sea]

I thought there would be a post about this by now, but I don't see one. While I appreciate thousands of trees are felled every day, I think its super sad that some imbecile thought it was a giggle to fell this one. Who cares about this? No-one? Some one?

[Percy]

It's despicable. The little sh*t should be castraited

[Clumsy*]

I'd say yes it's really sad because it was more than a tree, it was part of the identity of a community, and something more like a landmark.

But there are also bigger issues.

[T]

Well its an icon tree well photograph shame some vandal has felled it just to get a kick out of life!

[Laurel]

Well two vandals it’s looking like. It’s a contemptible crime but life goes on.

[biscuits]

I heard "sycamore gap" and switched off because I immediately thought it was something to do with thigh gaps

*googles*

Oh that is sad and a confusing thing to do. It was such a beautiful tree.

(How do I word the below without sounding like I don't care about that tree, when I do?)

It's interesting that one tree gets so much world-wide media attention, yet animal habitats consisting of trees and bushes are constantly being cut down for new housing developments, shops, roads, and train lines and no one really gives that much of a fug about it. Maybe because legal permission is given and the human benefit holds more importance?

[Mo34]

I think its gotten attention because a) its mindless, there's no reason to fell it. And b) because its symbolic of perhaps the above but possibly more so of the society we live in today.

[biscuits]

Yes, definitely to reason a.

All trees are equal, but some trees are more equal than others.

[Laurel]

I once accidentally came across a famous tree in Snowdonia. Was casually taking a picture of this scenic tree before discovering everyone takes a picture of THaT tree. Called the Llanberis tree or something.

[Mo34]

^^ That's reality sadly

[biscuits]

It's giving me Banksy vibes - of placing barbed fences and cctv cameras next to every huge tree.

I wonder what was going through his mind. Was it a pre planned thing? Did they have some sort of breakdown at the time? Was he hired to do it? Was it some sort of protest?

It must have been really hard to chop down. He must have serious should pain right now.

[Percy]

There are now claims it was a Tik-Tok stunt.

[gregarious_introvert]

I was there in May but didn't realise the significance of the tree (now I know why people were queueing up to take selfies) or its history in films (I didn't actually view it from the angle which has been shown in the news) and I agree that it's something which shouldn't have happened, however it isn't the most pressing issue in world affairs at this time.

[Chess&Junkfood]

To be honest I'm surprised the tree lasted as long as it did! 300 years old they say! It survived the blitz for a start! I didn't know about the tree before, but it looked nice to me. You could even say it was the supermodel of trees. Location helped with that supermodel status, but it still looked like a nice tree. Then one day someone with an axe to grind, or possibly a chainsaw, decided to cut short this mighty tree. It doesn't seem fair. But like other members have said, it does highlight other injustices in life.

[Rocket Spud]

'Bigger issues' is such a trite thing to say, it's entirely possible to care about this and other things at different times. It wouldn't be healthy to take on board the worlds problems and care all the time for everything. I would also discredit anyone commenting on people not caring for projects being built ... well, anywhere... there's nearly always a vast amount of local/regional opposition to any such proposals - just because it's not flavour of the day in the news doesn't mean people don't or wouldn't care.

[biscuits]

^ that's exactly the point, rocket spuddles. One tree getting so much media and social attention, but lots of trees etc. not getting the same level of attention.

[Laurel]

my tree down the road called Sid doesn't get any attention.

[Rocket Spud]

^^^ But they do, to varying degree at different times. Compare the news of this tree to that of the Amazon rainforest over the past, say, 10 years - there's no comparison. Most people do collectively care for nature but it would be nuts to pay special attention to everything individually.

[humphrey]

As someone who lives in the same county, and only 25 miles from it as the crow flies it is a pity.

They have over egged the pudding with the age of the tree, it is only about 100 years old not the 300 as stated by the southern media, our local news got it right straight away.

I said when it happened, that it would be a disgruntled tenant farmer, because it is on NT land, and farmers up here have form for doing thigs like this in the past. Now they have arrested a 60 year old man after they bailed the 16 year old, I bet they are father and son.

It is not as far off the beaten track as the media made out, there is a farm road that leads past it about 1/4 mile away and the that farm is no much further away, it would only have taken less than 10 mins to cut it down with a chain saw, and probably used a quad bike to get their and back.

[Laurel]

Yeah that’s what they saying now - a National Trust grudge

[BFG_]

Shame they can't use a crane to lift the tree back on top of the stump and graft it back together somehow.

[Tembo]

I suppose it has hit the news because it is such a symbolic tree. People die everyday, but only the death of famous people make the headlines.

Similar to the destruction of The Crooked House pub. Pubs are closing and spontaneously combusting all the time, but don’t reach the headlines. But this one was symbolic.

Should also be noted that all this news about The Crooked House has got more people talking about other pubs which have faced similar circumstances, so the recent news of the Sycamore Gap may get more people interested in saving their local trees, habitats and wildlife.

[Jam do Bronx]

My brain can't accept "felling" as a word.