‘DNA’ from 300-year-old Sycamore Gap tree may unmask vandal who chopped it down

02 October 2023 , 18:19

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The DNA of the Sycamore Gap tree could help find the person responsible (Image: Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

The DNA from the beloved Sycamore Gap tree found felled last week could help track down the vandal who cut it down, it has been claimed.

The popular landmark was cut down overnight between Wednesday and Thursday last week, sparking national outrage. Several people have made pilgrimages to the area to be close to where it had stood for more than 300 years.

On Friday former lumberjack Walter Renwick was arrested and released on bail and denies all allegations. Police searched his Plankey Mill farm in Northumberland, a property eight miles from the historic tree and a chainsaw was discovered in an outbuilding on the farm which was carried away by police in a clear evidence bag.

(Craig Connor/ChronicleLive)

Now Renwick, 69, has made a suggestion. He told the Sun: “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.

"It was the perfect night to do it. There was a full moon so it would have been well lit and the wind would have meant there was barely any sound.

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Mr Renwick was recently ordered to leave his farm by a court following a two-year-long legal battle - which ended in an eviction order. Throughout the case, Mr Renwick spoke emotively of his ties to the land which was leased under his late father's name. "I was born here," he said, "It is like a tree with roots." The former lumberjack was afforded a 28-day reprieve from eviction after taking the case to Carlisle County Court. But the Jesuits of Britain, who own the land, say they have now taken possession of it.

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In the most recent update Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney-Menzies, of Northumbria Police, said: “The senseless destruction of what is undoubtedly a world-renowned landmark – and a local treasure – has quite rightly resulted in an outpour shock, horror and anger throughout the North East and further afield.

“If you’ve seen or heard anything suspicious that may be of interest to us – I’d implore you to contact us. I’d also like to remind the public that this remains a live investigation so, for that reason, please avoid any speculation both in the community and on social media. Any information – no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be – could prove absolutely crucial to our enquiries.”

Antony Clements-Thrower