Sycamore Gap: How 300-year-old tree’s ‘DNA’ could unlock mystery of vandal feller
THE lumberjack accused of felling one of Britain’s most iconic trees says the culprit may be caught thanks to DNA.
Walter Renwick was arrested on Friday after the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree was chopped down.
But the 69-year-old, who has been released on bail, insists he’s “f***ing innocent” as the hunt for the suspect enters day five.
Speaking of the September 27 felling, Renwick said: “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.”
The toppling of the 70ft timber – which appeared in Kevin Costner’s 1991 hit Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – sparked fury across Britain.
The National Trust, who run the UNESCO World Heritage Site where the tree stood at Hadrian’s Wall, said they were “saddened” by the act of vandalism.
Forensic investigators from Northumberland Police were later spotted examining the Sycamore Gap tree stump on Friday.
Cops then descended on Renwick’s Plankey Mill farm in Northumberland, close to the scene of the crime.
They conducted a two-day search of the isolated plot, where they found a massive chainsaw in an outbuilding.
It was was added to dozens more evidence bags taken from the former campsite.
Renwick was taken into custody for questioning but later released, he was spotted on Sunday wandering around shirtless on his farm.
Hours earlier, he told The Sun: “You’ve got the wrong feller.”
The pensioner went on: “I’m a former lumberjack and I’ve 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 a rumour that I had cut it down. I didn’t do it.”
Renwick is understood to have been evicted by the property’s owners on Thursday and is now living in a nearby camper van.
A 16-year-old suspect has also been bailed.
No-one has been charged with the felling, though theories of its chopping down range from a TikTok stunt to a National Trust worker.
Police are keeping an open mind as to the motive of the felling.
A National Trust spokesperson said: “We are focused on making the site safe, and helping staff and the community come to terms with the news.
“We will be working with Northumberland National Park, other partners and the local community to consider plans for the site and the tree in the future.”