People wonder why someone - seemingly a 16-year old - felled the tree at #SycamoreGap.
I don't know the mind of the accused vandal, but I do know that we sadly have a horrible culture of vandalism, of destroying things "just 'cos". Bus shelters. Windscreens. Tyres. Public bikes. Private bikes (it's not uncommon here in Manchester for someone to destroy a bike they can't steal). I don't know why that is, but it's awful. Pointless, mindless destruction.
Not only that but those who commit some of these crimes use their phones, take videos and share on social to boast about what they have done or are doing, as if doing so and getting likes is a status symbol.
Perhaps therein lies the problem too.
They know there is no punishment, no consequences, no life time record in some cases, they can act with impunity.
