Death of a Tree

In the woods near Ladybank, scattered in amongst a foresty comission plantation of pine trees (maybe 50 years old) there a few more ancient, characterful trees.

Unfortunately my tree knowledge is not good enough to identify them, but they are big, old, gnarled and beautiful. Even though they are well off the path their difference makes them stand out from the uniform pine poles.

I was hoping to get a shot in autumn with these trees going red and the surrounding pines staying green, but didn't get my timing right - maybe next year.

But not for this tree. Because someone has deliberately ring-barked it. And hammered in a few nails for good measure. And then tried to set fire to it.

Why?