2nd man denies felling Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland

A second man accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree has denied chopping it down.

Adam Carruthers, 31, from Wigton in Cumbria, has appeared in court - saying he didn't cause 622-thousand pounds worth of damage to the site in Northumberland in September.

38 year old Daniel Graham, from Carlisle, who wasn't able to appear before a judge, has also previously denied the same offences.

The National Trust have estimated the damage to the tree at £622,191.

Carruthers also denies causing £1,144 worth of damage to Hadrian's Wall, a Unesco World Heritage Site, which was hit by the tree when it was felled overnight on September 28 2023.

Graham had previously denied the same offences at a magistrates' court hearing.

Both the tree and the wall were said to belong to the National Trust.

Judge Paul Sloan KC set a trial date of December 3 and granted Carruthers conditional bail in the meantime.

He set a case management hearing for August 27.

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