“Climate change won’t kill us, but stupidity”: Young man felled Robin Hood’s 300-year-old tree and networks react in outrage

An attack on nature has left thousands of people in Britain and environmentalists around the world speechless and saddened.

Major confusion has been caused by the brutality – for many an act of vandalism – of a 16-year-old boy being held on suspicion of felling a famous 300-year-old tree.

It is a ‘Sycamore Gap’, better known as the ‘Robin Hood tree’, the EFE agency published.

That tree, a plane tree, “was one of the most photographed in the United Kingdom, located near Hadrian’s Wall, in northeastern England,” El País reported.

“The tree was deliberately cut down.”

The scene of the fallen tree, with its leafy crown and ‘arms’ of branches in the ground, was shocking. “It was deliberately cut down,” said the manager of the national park where it was planted on Thursday, September 28, 2023, EFE reported.

“The Northumberland National Park Authority can confirm that the famous ‘Sycamore Gap’ tree unfortunately fell during the night,” police also said in a statement.

Why was that tree so famous?

In addition to its three centuries, the Sycamore Gap Tree became famous when it appeared in the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” starring Kevin Costner.

One writer, LJRoss, reacted with pain to the news: “I am terribly saddened by the loss of this beautiful and iconic tree, which was the backdrop to my second book and a source of peace and inspiration to many.”

A social networking user, Verónica Esparza, said: “Climate change isn’t going to kill us, stupidity is.”

English District Police, EFE added, reported that the teenager has been arrested in connection with the events, which they consider an “act of vandalism.”

That tree is considered “part of the DNA of the area,” El País reported.

The benefits we lose when trees are cut down because they are ‘annoying’

Outrage on social networks: this is cruelty

GiordanoRM He said: 300 years in prison for the child.

Julian He pointed out: Human stupidity does not stop growing.

She was more reflective Marta Garin: How sad. Not just because it kills a tree, of course, but because of what it means to decide to go to a beautiful place, to a symbol of resilience, and amputate it. Just because it’s possible. Simply because it is possible. It is still a sadness because it also makes me aware of human cruelty in this respect. This is also cruel.

Isabel Aly He said: What?? And how long will he be in prison??? I hope they let him plant trees on a few acres… because prison isn’t enough punishment for such stupidity.

The user @supermansincapa 36 complained: The world will not end, people will end the world.

While Rosana Plasencia invites you to think: “I had to start reading to understand how valuable and historic that tree was. I don’t understand, what desperate cry is in his soul: has he exhausted his pain and resentment with this act? ¿How great is the madness of our time? Who are your parents and who have been your teachers? How can this young man and this tree be repaired?”

(JO)