Sycamore Gap.

Photo above: Ready steady shoot

We are told to believe by the police, the media that a sixteen year old went out in a storm at night, to a remote location on Hadrian's Wall and expertly chainsawed down a mature sycamore tree, believed to be two to three centuries old. It seems in the UK Sixteen year olds are the paid fall guys for all manner of crime against ancient buildings, and now trees, as they are to young for the criminal justice system. 

It is also a horrific symbol of how broken and corrupt Britain now is and how removed from the natural world much of its population is. 

Wherever you are this weekend, please go and plant a tree or many trees, it seems we are in a fight for our lives against endless idiocy. 

Above: David Robertson wood engraving.

Above: Poems from the path

Above: Cast Sycamore bark by Anke

Above: Lisa Strong

Above: image by Nick Hayes

Would you hew me to the heartwood cutter?

Would you lay me low beneath your feet?

Listen to my sad mutter

Hear my heartwood beat

Would you throw me on the log-pile cutter?

Would you toss me to the steel sawblade?

Listen to my leaves flutter

Hear my heartwood break

Would you lean your back against me cutter

Would you rest your axe awhile and sleep

Listen to the song I utter

Hear my heartwood weep

Hear my heartwood 

heartwood 

Hear my heartwood 

I drink the rain

The eat the sun

I give the breath that fills your lungs

I hear the roaring engines thrum

I  cannot run

Would you hew me to the heartwood cutter?

Would you lay me low beneath your feet?

Listen to my sad mutter

Hear my heartwood beat

Hear my heartwood 

heartwood 

Hear my heartwood 

Heartwood trail

Heartwood is a collaborative work by Jackie Morris and Robert MacFarlane written in response to the unjust felling of trees in the city of Sheffield.

Link to Heartwood sung by Karine Polwart

Poem by Dawn McLachlan, drawing by Chris Riddell.