LONDON (AP) – It wasn't Britain's biggest tree or its oldest tree. But the majestic plane tree that stood along Hadrian's Wall in northern England for 150 years was one of the most beloved.
Sitting symmetrically in a hollow between two hills, the Sycamore Gap trees have been the site of first kisses, marriage proposals, and even the scattering of a loved one's ashes.
Last fall, when local residents and admirers woke up in the dark of night to the news of the felling, they wanted to know why and who had committed such a foolish act.
Prosecutors are expected to begin those answers on Monday.
The two men will stand trial at Newcastle Crown Court on charges of knocking down trees and damaging an ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in 122 AD to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire.
Little has been said about the case, including the possible motive to protect the integrity of the trial and the rights of the accused.
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, each pleaded not guilty to two counts of criminal damage. Prosecutors said the value of the tree was more than £620,000 ($790,000) and the damage to the wall was valued at £1,100 ($1,400).
“This is a case that is instantly recognizable to anyone who hears the indictment read,” prosecutor Rebecca Brown said in May when both defendants made their first appearance in court.
“The prosecution alleges that the tree was deliberately felled on September 28 last year and that the resulting fall caused damage to Hadrian's Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” Brown said. Ta. “Prosecutors allege that these defendants are responsible as part of a joint enterprise.”
News of the tree's disappearance spread quickly, and the impact was felt throughout Northumberland, a region rich in natural beauty and scenic beauty.
“I still can't accept the fact that the tree is not there,” said Katherine Cape, who lives nearby. “I'm still really angry about that. I don't understand why anyone would want to destroy something so beautiful.”
The tree was made famous by its appearance in Kevin Costner's 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and attracted much attention from tourists.
Before the trees were felled, around 80 per cent of inquiries received at Northumberland National Park's main visitor center were from people planning to walk up to the trees. CEO Tony Gates said.
The wide canopy of plane trees nestled between two hills has long been a popular spot for landscape photographers and a scenic resting place for walkers along the path along the ramparts.
Cape walked to the tree on her first and second dates with her future husband. Then they watched their daughter take her first steps there. And after her mother and sister passed away in 2020, she met up with her brother-in-law and nephews there, as they were unable to gather indoors due to the coronavirus lockdown.
The tree was a big draw for guests staying in a small cabin owned by the Cape. Bookings went down after the tree was down, but have mostly recovered.
She used to drive by the tree two or three days a week, but now she takes the highway instead because she hates seeing the clearing on the hillside where the tree once stood. I am.
The plane trees were removed by crane and taken to National Trust property for storage. This autumn, part of the trunk will be on display at the park's visitor center, and the tree seeds used to grow saplings will be donated to be planted across the UK.
Over time, the tree may regrow itself. More than 20 new shoots were found sprouting from the stump.
“The tree is still alive, just not in its original shape,” Cape said. “We'll never see it grow into a tree or see it what it was before in our lifetime.”
