British police made their second arrest on Friday for felling a 300 year old tree near the Roman landmark of Hadrian’s Wall in northeast England.
Hours after a 16 year old young man was released on bail, Northumbria Police said a man in his 60s He was arrested and is being questioned in custody.
“The senseless destruction of what is undoubtedly a world-renowned monument and local treasure has rightly resulted in an outpouring of shock, horror and anger across the North East and beyond,” said Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney-Menzies: “I hope this second arrest demonstrates how seriously we take this situation and our continued commitment to finding those responsible and bringing them to justice,” he added.
The 16-year-old was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage after the tree was destroyed during the night.
Why anyone would want to cut down one of England’s most iconic trees has left people across the UK baffled and angry.
Robert Macfarlanea renowned nature writer, said he was “sick to the core” upon hearing the news about the tree, which was “known and loved by millions.”
“I just see this as part of a piece with a much broader hostile environment towards the world I live in this country,” he told the radio station. BBC. “It was a tree under which ashes were scattered, weddings were held under it, and it was a refuge for tired walkers.”
Macfarlane said he was heartened by the widespread disgust that followed news of the tree’s felling and suggested a new forest be planted in its honour.
After centuries of industrialization and urbanization, it is considered that Great Britain is one of the most deforested countries in Europe.
The tree was one of the main landmarks throughout the Hadrian’s Wall, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, built almost 2,000 years ago when Britain was part of the Roman Empire to protect its northwest border.
For generations, walkers have stopped to admire and photograph the tree in Sycamore Gapwhich became famous when it appeared in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
The National Trust, which for more than 125 years has sought to protect England’s heritage and natural landscapes, said it is currently “making the site safe and helping staff and the community to come to terms with the news”.
The tree, which was cut down near the base of its trunk, could grow againthe experts said, although they warned that he would never be the same again.
“It’s worth a try, but I think livestock and wildlife could damage it too,” said Rob Ternent, head gardener at nearby The Alnwick Garden. “It will be very difficult to return it to the original tree.”
Ternent said the first signs of recovery They could begin to appear in the spring and the tree could measure about 2.4 meters tall, although it will be dense.
“It was about 300 years old, so it will take a long time to get back to that size,” he added.
(With information from AP)
Source-www.infobae.com