Overview

• The trial of Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, commenced at Newcastle Crown Court, with both pleading not guilty to charges of criminal damage.
• The Sycamore Gap tree, a landmark along Hadrian's Wall, was felled overnight in September 2023, causing outrage and grief across the UK.
• Prosecutors have valued the damage to the tree at £622,191, with an additional £1,144 in damage caused to the UNESCO World Heritage Site wall.
• This rare criminal prosecution for tree felling, led by the Crown Prosecution Service, involves over 40,000 pages of evidence and extensive forensic analysis.
• Efforts to preserve the tree's legacy include saplings grown from its seeds being planted across the UK, while shoots have also emerged from the stump.