The iconic tree stood for more than 100 years but was cut down in less than three minutes.
Trevor Mogg/Digital Trends
On the morning of September 28, 2023, Brits awoke to the shocking news that the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland had been deliberately felled.
Locals Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were soon arrested and charged with criminal damage, and their trial started earlier this week.
Also known as “the Robin Hood tree” after its appearance in Kevin Costner’s 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the landmark, about 250 miles north of London, was notable for its stunning setting along Hadrian’s Wall, the defensive fortification built by the Romans across northern England some 2,000 years ago.
The movie’s director, Kevin Reynolds, called the act of vandalism “ugly,” “despicable,” and “senseless,” describing the tree as “one of the most quintessentially idyllic spots in the world” and likening its destruction to the loss of a revered monument.
On the second day of the trial on Tuesday, prosecutor Richard Wright noted how the tree had become “a famous site, reproduced countless times in photographs, feature films, and art,” the Guardian reported.
Wright accused Graham and Carruthers of showing “expertise and a determined, deliberate approach” to the felling, which one of the defendants filmed on a smartphone. “First, they marked the intended cut with silver spray paint, before cutting out a wedge that would dictate the direction in which the tree would fall. One of the men then cut across the trunk, causing the sycamore to fall, hitting the wall.” The footage was shown to the jury.
“During [their] return journey,” Wright continued, “Mr Carruthers received a video of his young child from his partner. He replied to her: ‘I’ve got a better video than that.’ Minutes later, the video of the felling of the tree was sent from Graham’s phone to Carruthers’ phone.” He added: “At the time of that text conversation, the only people in the world who knew that the tree had been felled were the men who had cut it down.”
Both men maintain their innocence and the trial continues.
On a positive note, the tree’s stump has since sprouted new shoots, offering hope for regrowth — but a full return to its iconic form is likely to take more than a century.
Please enable Javascript to view this content
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
10 best R-rated movies streaming right now
Sometimes you want a movie that pushes the envelope — maybe something a little bolder or a little more intense than what you would usually put on for family nights. Whether you’re preparing for a fun night with friends or just looking for something gripping to watch, R-rated movies bring a level of excitement that lighter films don’t usually have.
From daring new releases like Anora to all-time greats like Parasite, the best R-rated films streaming right now span many genres, ensuring that there’s something for every type of viewer. These great picks promise unforgettable stories and that kind of edge that only comes with the freedom to go all in.
Read more
Netflix’s Narnia movie finds its White Witch
Following her work on Barbie, director Greta Gerwig is adapting C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia for Netflix, with the first film currently casting. Now, one of the major roles has been filled. Emma Mackey has reportedly been cast as Jadis, an evil sorceress who is best known by the people of Narnia as the White Witch.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Mackey nabbed the part of the White Witch over the other top contender, Margaret Qualley. Previous reports that Charli XCX was playing the White Witch didn’t pan out. However, THR notes that the rumors about Meryl Streep voicing the lion Aslan appear to be true with the actress currently in talks for the role. In the books, Aslan is a male lion who was voiced by Liam Neeson in the previously released theatrical movies.
Read more
Will Forte is shocked that Coyote vs. Acme was saved
Two years ago, the animated/live-action hybrid film Coyote vs. Acme was shelved by Warner Bros. Discovery despite being fully completed. It was reportedly going to be a $30 million tax write off for the corporation despite backlash from industry creators and animation fans. Will Forte, who has a starring role in the film as Wile E. Coyote’s lawyer, openly spoke out about WBD’s decision to bury it. Now that the film has been saved by Ketchup Entertainment, Forte can’t quite believe that Coyote vs. Acme will finally see the light of day.
“I never thought it would happen so it just came out of nowhere and I’m so thrilled,” Forte told The Hollywood Reporter. “Thank you Ketchup Entertainment, I’m so excited for people to see this movie. I’m gonna promote the crap out of it, just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll go, I’ll do whatever — go to the top of Mount Everest, I’m there.”
Read more
English