Take look at this sycamore tree. Do you recognise it? You should do. It featured heavily in the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.

Today the region woke up to the news that the tree has been destroyed, deliberately cut down in what can only be described as the worst act of vandalism the region has ever seen.

An internationally recognised landmark gone in the blink of an eye and gone forever.

The sycamore tree was believed to be around three hundred years old, so even planting a new one today, it would not return to the glory of its predecessor until three centuries have passed. Think of that for a moment. Some low life with a chainsaw just destroyed three centuries of heritage.

Why?

It is hard to find a reason why someone would do that.

What did they have to gain? It is not as though they could cart the wood off to be used in log burner heaters or a bonfire. Sycamore Gap is a fair old walk from the nearest car park, but I’m hoping whoever did do it was stupid enough to park in one of them.

Perhaps CCTV could be used to trace vehicles that were there late into the night?