Isolated between two mountains in the middle of Northbriam’s spectacular landscape, this maple appeared in the 1991 movie “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” with Kevin Costner. Most photographed, it was voted “Tree of the Year”. In 2016.
At the end of September 2023, people walking through the area found the tree down and its roots. A “subversive” act according to the police that caused grief and commotion.
Daniel Graham, 38, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Wednesday with another man, Adam Carruthers, 31, who pleaded no contest to the charges.
The pair, who appeared in court with their faces covered, have been accused of causing more than £622,000 worth of damage by destroying the more than 200-year-old tree. After the hearing, both defendants remain free until their next hearing scheduled for June 12.
They were charged and fined for damaging Hadrian’s Wall, built in Roman times to prevent invasions.
A month after it was found lying down, officials cut down the tree and removed it. Experts are now trying to see if it will sprout again or if new trees will grow from its seeds.
Jane Austen is a writer and contributor covering culture, literature, lifestyle, and society. Her work focuses on thoughtful storytelling, social trends, and the issues shaping everyday life, delivering engaging and accessible content for readers across the United Kingdom.
