Two men, Daniel Graham, 38, and Adam Carruthers, 31, have been charged in connection with the felling of the historic Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland, United Kingdom. The tree, which was over 200 years old and featured in the film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” was cut down with a chainsaw in September. This incident not only affected the tree but also part of the adjacent Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The charges were announced by the Crown Prosecution Service, and the men are scheduled to appear at South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court on May 15. Following the destruction of the tree, which was the 2016 English Tree of the Year, there has been a significant public response, including expressions of mourning and offers to aid in its restoration. This reaction underscored the tree’s cultural and historical significance, evoking strong emotional attachments and leading to tributes such as a candlelit vigil and a dedicated poem titled “Ode to a Sycamore Tree.”

In a separate development, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry commenced in Belfast to examine the governance and decision-making during the pandemic in Northern Ireland. This inquiry has seen participation from various groups, including the Northern Ireland Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice. The hearings aim to scrutinize the actions of key political figures from the crisis period and uncover the systemic failures that impacted the region’s handling of the pandemic. Testimonies from bereaved families and representatives from disability advocacy groups have been central to conveying the hardships faced by vulnerable populations during the pandemic.