A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in northern England for what police described as the “deliberate” felling of an ancient tree made famous in a Kevin Costner film.
The sycamore stood for almost 200 years next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland – a UNESCO World Heritage Site guarding the northwest border of the Roman Empire – until Wednesday night, when it was accidentally cut down.
A photo taken early Thursday showed the tree axed near the base of its trunk, with the rest on its side.
Northumberland National Park Authority officials said they believed the sycamore – voted English Tree of the Year 2016 – was “deliberately felled.”
The unidentified teenager arrested in connection with the vandalism is now facing charges of criminal damage. Northumbria Police said he was co-operating with the investigation.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in northern England for what police described as the “deliberate” felling of an ancient tree made famous in a Kevin Costner film. Adam Vaughan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock The movie cameo made the sycamore world-famous and earned the nickname “Robin Hood’s tree.” Warner Bros. Pictures
There was no immediate information on the motive for the malicious act.
“The tree is a world-renowned landmark and the vandalism has caused understandable shock and anger throughout the local community and beyond,” police said in a statement.
The trees at Sycamore Gap have been admired and photographed by tourists and locals for decades. Its iconic status was cemented in 1991, when it was featured in the adventure film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” starring Costner.
A photo taken early Thursday shows the tree axed near the base of its trunk, with the rest on its side.AP
The movie cameo made the sycamore world famous and earned it the nickname “Robin Hood’s tree.”
“This is a very sad day,” Northumbria Police Superintendent Kevin Waring said. “The tree is iconic in the North East and is enjoyed by so many who live in or have visited the region.”
Alison Hawkins, who was walking the Hadrian’s Wall path, was one of the first to see the tree cut down earlier on Thursday.
“It was a real surprise. It’s basically an iconic picture that everyone wants to see,” he said. “You can forgive nature for doing it but you can’t forgive it.”
Photographer Ian Sproat told BBC News his “heart was ripped out” when he saw the damage.
With Postal wire
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
