Lumberjack's 4-word response as he's accused of cutting down Sycamore Gap tree
A lumberjack accused of chopping down one of the world's most photographed trees has furiously denied the claims.
Walter Renwick insists that he has been wrongly named on social media as the culprit of the mindless vandalism, after the Sycamore Gap tree was felled on Wednesday. Brits have been left disgusted over the act, as tourists came from all over to take pictures of the 300-year-old landmark.
While local residents have taken matters into their own hands as they try to find out who did it, police say they have arrested a man in his 60s in connection with the incident. Walter's brother rushed over to his house to find out whether the rumours are true - and Walter admits he understood why he was named as a suspect.
Brits have been left sickened (Newcastle Chronicle)The 69-year-old has spent his entire career felling trees, The Sun reports. And despite his 'motive' - the fact that he was evicted last week from the home he grew up in near the scene of the crime, he vehemently denies being connected to the felling of the 70-foot 'Robin Hood Tree', adding: "I didn't do it."
Walter said: “I am a former lumberjack and I have just been kicked off my property, so I can see why people have pointed the finger. My brother came down to make sure I hadn’t been arrested as he had heard the rumours. It’s very sad. It’s an iconic tree.”
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He admits that the real criminal chose the "perfect night" to take down the tree, due to the fact there was a full moon to help illuminate the area. Walter also explained that as it was windy, it also meant that there was "barely any sound". He added: "Trees have their own DNA and you can use the dust to track down which tree was felled, so it’ll be easy to find who did it.”
A 16-year-old boy was arrested in a desperate search for the perpetrator, but he was later released on bail. And investigators revealed that white paint was used to mark the trunk, while a directional cut was made to make sure the iconic tree, located along Hadrian's Wall between Newcastle and Carlisle, fell a certain way. It comes after fears that the tree may have been chopped down as part of an online stunt. Officers are looking into the possibility that the culprit behind the Sycamore Gap tree felling used a chainsaw - and was doing it for content on the popular app.
Forensic officers were seen taking photographs and samples of the tree - once perched in a natural dip along Hadrian’s wall - as police began to prove a launch to gain a full picture of what happened overnight between Wednesday and Thursday Kim McGuinness, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Kim, said: “That tree was ours. It was an iconic North East landmark standing tall in our beautiful Northumberland. Officers will do their utmost to catch whoever is behind this.”
Rebecca Fenney-Menzies, of Northumbria Police, added: “I hope this second arrest demonstrates just how seriously we are taking this situation and our commitment to bringing those responsible to justice. Any members of the public with information which may assist should get in touch.”
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