Ex-lumberjack arrested on suspicion of cutting down Sycamore Gap tree faces no further action after being cleared by police

A former lumberjack arrested on suspicion of cutting down Britain’s best-loved tree will face no further action after being cleared by police.

Walter Renwick, 69, had repeatedly denied any involvement in felling the Sycamore Gap tree by Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland in September and said he was watching Netflix in his campervan at a farm eight miles away when it happened.

Northumbria Police have never named any of the arrested suspects, but released a statement yesterday to reveal a ‘man in his 60s previously arrested on suspicion of criminal damage will now face no further action by police.’

Two men in their 30s remain on police bail.

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney-Menzies said: ‘I would like to reassure the public that our investigation continues, and we are committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the damage, and in bringing any offenders to justice.

Walter Renwick, 69, had repeatedly denied any involvement in felling the Sycamore Gap tree by Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland in September

Northumbria Police have never named any of the arrested suspects, but released a statement yesterday to reveal a ‘man in his 60s’ will face no further action 

Police search teams were seen taking away a chainsaw in an evidence bag from a barn on Plankey Mill Farm in Northumberland in October 

‘Sycamore gap is an iconic part of our region’s landscape and we know just how much outrage this incident has caused.

‘As always, we continue to welcome any new information from members of the public that could help progress us the investigation.’

Mr Renwick was evicted from the farmhouse that had been home to three generations of his family shortly before the Sycamore Gap crime.

He said he was identified as a suspect as he worked as a lumberjack for 40 years.

When first accused on social media he insisted he was innocent, commenting: ‘I didn’t do it. 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.

MR Renwick (pictured at his home), 69, will face no further action after being cleared by police

The 300-year-old sycamore was nicknamed Robin Hood’s Tree after it featured in the 1991 blockbuster film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner

‘But 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.

‘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.’

He later said: ‘I’m the most boring person in the world. I was watching Netflix. I didn’t know it was cut down.’

The 300-year-old sycamore was nicknamed Robin Hood’s Tree after it featured in the 1991 blockbuster film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.

Part of the Hadrian’s Wall UNESCO world heritage site, for decades it had drawn walkers and visitors and was a magnet for photographers, and wedding proposals.

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