A forensic ecologist claims she could have solved the mystery of the Sycamore Gap felling by examining a ‘halo of pollen’ around the tree to help track down vandals.
Professor Patricia Wiltshire, known as ‘Pollen Pat’ to Met detectives, has helped police in more than 300 criminal investigations since 1994, by examining soil or plant samples taken from crime scene.
Last year her services were recommended to police investigating the mystery of the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree which was chopped down in the middle of the night. But she says she wasn’t called to investigate.
Speaking to The Times, Ms Wiltshire said she could have traced the culprit in this case and said: ‘All I would have needed to do was take [a suspect’s] shoes and some samples from the scene.
‘Sycamore pollen doesn’t go very far. There would still be a halo of pollen around the tree. The person or people responsible would have got it on them.’
The world famous tree, located next to Hadrian’s Wall, appeared in Kevin Costner’s 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and was a much-loved tourist destination before it was chopped down in an ‘act of vandalism’.
The iconic tree was thought to be among the most photographed in the world – and when it was mysteriously chopped down it caused national outrage.
In November two men aged in their 30s were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and were bailed.
In December Walter Renwick, 69, and a 16-year-old boy who can not be named for legal reasons were arrested separately in connection with the felling, but police said they would face no further action.
Tree Weaver 