RIP Sycamore Gap 🍁

Loxley · September 2023

Dovefromabove said:

With my farming hat on, and having been the parent of a ‘helpful’ teenage boy who liked to think for himself and thought he ‘knew it all’ I can imagine a scenario where a farmer’s son was sent out with quad bike and chainsaw and told to cut down any trees near walls/fences that could blow down in the winter gales and allow stock to escape. An adult wouldn’t have thought to say
‘But not the big sycamore’
because it’s ‘a given’ isn’t it … everyone knows not that one don’t they?.
And a teenage boy who knows it all just sees a tree with its roots undermining a wall and envisages it blowing down in a gale (possibly Storm Agnes … that was on the way when it happened wasn’t it?) smashing the wall down and letting the sheep out.

I remember my teenage son, in an effort to get into my good books while I was out for the day, weeding the veg patch … pulling up and burning the newly planted blackcurrant bushes and ‘those tall ferny things that were all yellow and dead” … My asparagus bed!!! “But asparagus doesn’t look like that!!!” .”It does in the autumn “ 🙄

That's very possible but my conspiracy theory is that the National Trust has fallen out with one of their tenant farmers and the felling was "F.U." to them

My POV is the tree had tremendous aesthetic and cultural value, but it's not really a big deal ecologically, and the tree wasn't remarkable in and of itself.

Ceres · September 2023

I have often wondered if the sort of person who destroys a loved tree is the same sort of person who will slash a famous work of art. Is it a power thing or mental illness? There is no doubt that some people are desperately sick and really ought to be under the care of the mental health services but in the case of the tree, I wonder if the power to destroy is what drives the people who did this, much like a "small" man getting a big and very noisy car. It can't be the same as the destruction of the Crooked House pub because there doesn't seem to be any monetary advantage to removing the tree.

wild edges · September 2023

raisingirl said:

I get your point Dove, but I doubt that wall would have kept sheep in anyway

I thought it was for keeping the Scottish out?

JennyJ · September 2023

Why does anyone commit acts of vandalism? Because they can't stand other people enjoying something? To make some kind of mark on the world?

raisingirl · September 2023

wild edges said:
I thought it was for keeping the Scottish out?

I imagine the assumption was that they are less resourceful than a sheep?

Red maple · September 2023

Perhaps one of the tenant farmers has fallen out with the NT, but the fact remains that whoever did this, they have upset and offended a lot of people, not just the NT who they may or may not have had an issue with. (If, indeed it was someone bearing the NT a grudge who did this act of vandalism). Also, at the end of the day, a beautiful, living, healthy tree has become the victim of a malicious act whether or not it is “native” to this country. (After 200+ years, I think it may have earned its place). Yes, it may well sprout again from the stump, but it will be hundreds of years before it reaches the majesty it had if it does sprout. I find it so incredibly sad, but feel anger and frustration, too.
All I can ask is “why?”.

Red maple · September 2023

Meant to add, I’m not sure that’s the case, ie a tenant farmer falling out with the NT.

Fairygirl · October 2023

Indeed @Red maple. Petty, nasty vandalism - and that's being polite. Whether it's some kind of grudge, or for any other 'reason' , that's irrelevant.
Makes you wonder what they're like in other ways too.
On second thoughts, I'm glad I don't have to encounter them - whoever they are.

Meomye · October 2023

Such sad news, as you can see by my icon I am (was) a big fan.

Emerion · October 2023

Dovefromabove said:

With my farming hat on, and having been the parent of a ‘helpful’ teenage boy who liked to think for himself and thought he ‘knew it all’ I can imagine a scenario where a farmer’s son was sent out with quad bike and chainsaw and told to cut down any trees near walls/fences that could blow down in the winter gales and allow stock to escape. An adult wouldn’t have thought to say
‘But not the big sycamore’
because it’s ‘a given’ isn’t it … everyone knows not that one don’t they?.
And a teenage boy who knows it all just sees a tree with its roots undermining a wall and envisages it blowing down in a gale (possibly Storm Agnes … that was on the way when it happened wasn’t it?) smashing the wall down and letting the sheep out.

I remember my teenage son, in an effort to get into my good books while I was out for the day, weeding the veg patch … pulling up and burning the newly planted blackcurrant bushes and ‘those tall ferny things that were all yellow and dead” … My asparagus bed!!! “But asparagus doesn’t look like that!!!” .”It does in the autumn “ 🙄

That’s a good theory. We know a few farming families, being smallholders. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if a farming lad wasn’t interested in, or even aware of, a famous local tree. Just getting the chills thinking about the sinking feeling, when the adult who asked him to go out and tidy up, realised what he’d done. If indeed that is what happened.

RIP Sycamore Gap 🍁

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