Those saying it was just a tree are missing the point I feel. It's particular value was not that it was a tree, but in it's aesthetic appeal, and so the crime is more akin to vandalism of art works or landmarks. The Mona Lisa is just some paint on a canvas after all, Stonehenge is just a bunch of rocks, but no one would argue that their destruction would be treated in the same way as a ripping up an amateur's painting, or knocking over a dry stone wall.
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[News] Sycamore Gap Tree
- Thread starter Frutos
- Start date
AZ Gull
@SeagullsAcademy @seagullsacademy.bsky.social
Blimey, Simon Rusk has really let himself go.
John1066
Member
- May 13, 2019
- 59
Son of Catweazle
GT49er
Well-known member
No. One is repairable (albeit at considerable time, trouble and expense), one is irreversible.
- Thread starter
- #287
Not that I can imagine a defensible excuse, but it saddens me more that this landmark has been lost to a couple of morons for no other reason than "having a laugh".
I'm not sure why, but I think I'd be even angrier if it turned out they'd chopped it down because they were somehow going to make thousands of pounds from it.
Can't believe a minority of people seem to think there is nothing to see here.
They cut the tree down precisely because they knew how much it would upset people.
And sniggered their way through the trial.
No agenda other than to be ****s.
They cut the tree down precisely because they knew how much it would upset people.
And sniggered their way through the trial.
No agenda other than to be ****s.
100%. And that's why I hope they live the rest of their lives looking over their shoulder, fearing
for their lives.
They should be required to plant new trees or trim some so they are not a danger to the public as part of a course while serving their sentence. This would be similar to those online courses that you take when you get a speeding fine to avoid points on your driving license.
I don't think they should be allowed anywhere near a tree.
Instead of a wooden bed, they can have a brick base with a plastic sheet in their cell.
After they come out, I doubt that Just Stop Oil will seek them out, as they should.
Instead they will be bought endless pints by the nation's anti-woke hero-worshipers,
convinced the tree was gay, and planted by Muslims.
One of them has a groundworks business - so presumably does this sort of thing already.
herecomesaregular
We're in the pipe, 5 by 5
You'd think people who do this kind of work would appreciate and love nature but in my, admittedly limited experience of them, they often seem to just like...... being destructive.
schmunk
Well-used member
Just Stop Charcoal, though...
SeagullinExile
Well-known member
In all honesty, I think Mitchells & Butlers chopping down an ancient oak tree is far worse than this.
But I guess as they apologized, it’s all fine now.
But I guess as they apologized, it’s all fine now.
I agree 100%, but is 'locking them up and throwing away the key' the right response? They're not a danger to the public, indeed quite the opposite. Given the state of overcrowding in our prisons I'm not in favour of locking two more people up just for a bit of criminal damage.
But of course calling it 'just a bit of criminal damage' doesn't begin to reflect the impact and the sadness the event has brought. If 'for a laugh' they'd cut down an anonymous tree in a local park and it had done £1000 quid's worth of damage to an old wall it would have been a local news story at best. But this was no ordinary tree and no ordinary wall. As someone else has said, it's the equivalent of destroying the Mona Lisa as opposed to ripping up an old picture you did at school.
So I'm honestly torn. I don't particularly want to see them locked up (unless it's for their own protection), but on the other hand I don't want to see them get off with what might be deemed a 'typical' punishment for cutting down a tree and damaging a wall, i.e. a paltry fine and a few hours community service.
nevergoagain
Well-known member
Christ, it's been a while since I agreed with something you wrote but I agree.
As much as I want to see them punished as far as the joke of a justice system allows, locking them up for however long means less space for others. I'd much rather see violent offenders & nonces behind bars than criminal damage offenders. That said, maybe they can be forced to make adequate reparations via an extremely long community service order that relates to their crime, tree planting, clearing up the countryside etc. but I suspect they might well find a way to weasel out of doing it.
nevergoagain
Well-known member
Is there no end to the drivel you constantly post ?.
dejavuatbtn
Well-known member
I’d make them doing supervised work for the national trust one day a week for free, doing coppicing work, seeing they like chopping down trees. At least we don’t have to pay their keep and put their skills to good use.