Sycamore Gap tree

Photogenic tree in Northumberland, England

Sycamore Gap tree

View of the tree from the north in October 2020, before it was cut down in 2023. Hadrian's Wall is visible to the left of and in front of the tree.

Species| Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)
Location| Near Crag Lough, Northumberland, England
Coordinates|

* 55°00′13″N 2°22′26″W﻿ / ﻿55.00356°N 2.37387°W﻿ / 55.00356; -2.37387
* NY 761 677

Height| approx. 49 feet (15 m) (formerly)
Date felled| 28 September 2023 (2023-09-28)
Custodian| National Trust and Northumberland National Park

The Sycamore Gap tree, also known as the Robin Hood tree, was a 150-year-old sycamore tree next to Hadrian's Wall near Crag Lough in Northumberland, England. It was illegally felled in 2023, but has since sprouted from the stump. Standing in a dramatic dip in the landscape created by glacial meltwater, it was one of the country's most photographed trees and an emblem for the North East of England. It derived its alternative name from featuring in a prominent scene in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The tree won the 2016 England Tree of the Year award, part of the Woodland Trust's annual competition that celebrates culturally and environmentally significant trees across the UK. As the national winner for England, the Sycamore Gap tree received a £1,000 care grant funded by the People's Postcode Lottery.

The tree was illegally felled in the early morning of 28 September 2023. Northumbria Police described the felling of the tree as "an act of vandalism". Two men from Cumbria, aged 38 and 31, were arrested in October 2023 and charged in April 2024 with criminal damage both to the tree and to the adjacent Hadrian's Wall.[1] Their trial began on 28 April 2025 at Newcastle Crown Court and they were found guilty on 9 May. Both men were sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in prison on 15 July 2025.

The stump has thrown up basal shoots and is still alive, albeit severely coppiced; the tree is expected to take more than 150 years to recover. Cuttings were also gathered from the tree.[2]

## Location

[edit]

The Sycamore Gap tree grew to a height of approximately 15 metres (49 ft),[3] next to Hadrian's Wall, between Milecastle 39 and Crag Lough, about 2 miles (3 km) west of Housesteads Roman Fort in Northumberland, northern England.[4] This section of the wall follows the edge of a cliff – an outcrop of the Whin Sill – and several sharp dips in it caused by melting glacial waters.[5] The tree stood within one of these dips with the cliff and wall rising dramatically either side.[4] The wall and adjacent land, including the site of the tree, are owned by the National Trust.[4] The area was subject to an archaeological excavation in the mid-1980s during which a pottery dump, dating to around 175AD, was found.[6]

A popular attraction, the tree was described as one of the most photographed in the country and the location may be the most photographed point in all of Northumberland National Park.[7][8][9] It was visible from the nearby B6318 Military Road.[4] The name "Sycamore Gap" was coined by National Trust employee Lawrence Hewer when the Ordnance Survey were remapping the area and asked if the previously unnamed spot had a designation.[10]

## History

[edit]

The tree was a non-native sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus).[9][11] According to the National Trust, it was planted in the late 19th century by the previous land owner, Newcastle lawyer John Clayton (1792–1890) as a landscape feature,[12] making it about 150 years old.[13][14] It's possible that the tree is somewhat older.[15] John Hodgson sketched a tree in the gap on 18 October 1832 and an enclosure around the tree appears on Ordnance Survey maps by the 1860s.[15] Clayton was part of a wealthy family and he inherited the Roman fort of Chesters. He was a keen excavator of Hadrian's Wall; for almost 50 years, he excavated every year, enhancing the understanding of the construction of Hadrian's Wall, and became worried that it was being destroyed by people taking the dressed stone to build farmhouses and other buildings. By the time he died he owned five forts and around 20 miles (32 kilometres) of Hadrian's Wall. By purchasing these sites he brought them under his protection.[16]

The tree featured in a key scene near the beginning of the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and has subsequently become known as the "Robin Hood tree", although in reality it was some 170 miles (274 kilometres) from Sherwood Forest.[8][9] It appeared in the music video for Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", a song from the film's soundtrack; the video was regularly shown on the British TV programme Top of the Pops in 1991.[4] The tree also appeared in the TV crime drama Vera and in the documentary series More Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green.[10] The site was popular among astrophotographers and stargazers.[17] The tree escaped damage on 30 May 2003 when a helicopter filming British Isles – A Natural History crashed around 30 metres (100 feet) away, narrowly avoiding presenter Alan Titchmarsh. The four on board the aircraft were lightly injured.[18][19]

In 2016, the tree was nominated for England's Tree of the Year competition.[8] It was selected from 200 competitors for the final shortlist of 10 and won the competition with 2,542 votes out of 11,913.[5] The prize was a £1,000 grant which was used to survey the health of the tree and to carry out work to protect its roots, which were becoming exposed due to the high volume of foot traffic passing over them.[4] The Sycamore Gap Tree was entered in the 2017 European Tree of the Year contest in which it came 5th out of 16, polling 7,123 votes.[4][9]

## Felling and investigation

[edit]

The tree two days after it was felled

The tree was felled in the early morning of 28 September 2023. Locals did not hear the felling because of high winds caused by Storm Agnes.[20] The Northumberland National Park Authority said they believed it was done deliberately.[21] Northumbria Police described the felling of the tree as "a deliberate act of vandalism".[22] The tree appeared to have been cut down with a chainsaw, at the base of its trunk,[23] with a white line spray painted on it just below the cut.[24] The nature of the cut and the evident sharpness of the saw led police and park rangers to conclude it had been done by someone with considerable skill.[20]

### Arrests and trial

[edit]

Northumbria Police arrested a 16-year-old boy and a man in his 60s in connection with the tree's felling, and later arrested two men in their 30s from Cumbria. The force later indicated no further action would be taken against the boy and the man in his 60s, while the other two men remained on bail,[25][26] and in April 2024 Daniel Graham, who ran a groundwork business near Carlisle, and Adam Carruthers, a mechanic living in a caravan in Kirkbride, were charged with criminal damage to the tree and to Hadrian's Wall.[1][27]

On 15 May 2024 the two men appeared at Newcastle Crown Court. One entered pleas of not guilty to both charges and the second did not enter a plea.[28] In June 2024 the second man entered two not guilty pleas. Both men were released on bail. The trial began on 28 April 2025 before Mrs Justice Lambert.[29][30] The prosecution's case opened on 29 April.[31] The men were charged with causing £622,191 worth of criminal damage to the tree and of causing £1,144 of damage to Hadrian's Wall.[32][33] The trial was shown footage, purportedly filmed by one of the defendants on a mobile phone, showing the other felling the tree using a chainsaw. The two men were also accused of keeping a wedge of the trunk as a trophy.[34][35] On the fourth day of the trial, prosecutors said the two accused men had driven from Carlisle overnight, during Storm Agnes, to the tree. The court had already been told that the men sometimes worked together and had experience felling large trees.[36] On 9 May, the jury found both men guilty after 5 hours of deliberation. They were both sentenced on 15 July to 4 years and 3 months in prison, to run concurrently with a 6-month sentence for the damage caused to Hadrian's Wall. They were told that they would be released no later than 40% of the way through their sentence and that the time they had already served on remand would also be deducted.[37]

## Aftermath

[edit]

The destruction of the tree led to anger and sadness. Over the decades, the tree had become the backdrop for marriage proposals, weddings and spreading the ashes of loved ones. The National Trust's regional director for the North of England said:[38][39]

> The outpouring we've seen shows just how important the connection is between people and nature in its many forms, and as we consider plans for this special tree, and this very special place, we'll also look to harness that support for trees, landscapes and nature all across the country, and use the sycamore as a symbol of recovery.

On 29 September 2023, a National Trust manager said that the stump seemed "healthy" and thought that the tree could possibly regrow in coppiced form, although he added that it would "take a few years to develop into even a small tree and around 150 to 200 years before it is anywhere close to what we have lost".[11] Seeds were collected from the tree which are to be used to propagate new saplings.[25]

A preliminary inspection of Hadrian's Wall by Historic England revealed "some damage".[40][41] The felled tree was cut up and removed by crane for storage on National Trust property.[13]

On 8 March 2024, BBC News reported that the first seedlings had sprouted from genetic material recovered at the site.[42] The first seedling was presented to King Charles III who announced that it would be planted in Windsor Great Park once it had matured into a sapling.[43] Further seeds from the site are being grown into saplings by the National Trust that will be distributed to the school nearest the site and the UK's National Parks as well as a number of good causes.[44] In August 2024, it was found that new shoots had appeared at the base of the stump.[2]

An art exhibition was commissioned using part of the tree's trunk. The initial stage was in 2024 at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre at Bardon Mill in the Northumberland National Park.[45][46]

The tree appears, in a digital recreation, in the 2025 post-apocalyptic coming-of-age horror film 28 Years Later. Director Danny Boyle said he hoped it would be "a wonderful tribute" to Northumberland's iconic tree.[47]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Sycamore Gap panorama

* View looking west from the north side of Hadrian's Wall

* The tree in summer 2018

* Astrophotography at the Sycamore Gap

## See also

[edit]

* List of individual trees
* Heritage tree

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Two men charged over felling of Sycamore Gap tree". BBC News. 30 April 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
2. ^ a b Chappell, Bill (1 August 2024). "The Sycamore Gap tree is regenerating itself, delighting experts". NPR. Archived from the original on 1 August 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
3. ^ Freeman, Alison; Bedendo, Federica (24 September 2024). "Sycamore Gap tree trunk section back home a year on". BBC News.
4. ^ a b c d e f g "Famous Hadrian's Wall tree wins national competition". Carlisle News and Star. 31 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
5. ^ a b "Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall is 'Tree of the Year'". ITV News. 18 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
6. ^ "Hadrian's Wall". Current Archaeology. Vol. 9, no. 1\. April 1985. pp. 16–19.
7. ^ Harley, Nicola (17 December 2016). "Robin Hood tree wins coveted Tree of the Year crown". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
8. ^ a b c Henderson, Tony (16 February 2018). "Is Sycamore Gap the most photographed tree in the UK?". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
9. ^ a b c d "The Sycamore Gap Tree". European Tree of the Year. Environmental Partnership Association. Archived from the original on 20 June 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
10. ^ a b "Read about Sycamore Gap". National Trust. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022.
11. ^ a b Jagger, Samantha; Dodd, Tim (29 September 2023). "Sycamore Gap: Shoots could regrow from felled tree, says trust". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
12. ^ "Our statement on the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree". nationaltrust.org.uk. 29 September 2023. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
13. ^ a b "Sycamore Gap tree to be cut up and moved by crane". BBC News. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
14. ^ "Sycamore Gap tree: The story so far". BBC News. 5 October 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
15. ^ a b Crow, Jim (31 October 2023). "The tale of a tree: An archaeological history of Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall". The Past. The Past Ltd. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
16. ^ "Meet The Man Who Saved Hadrian's Wall". English Heritage. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
17. ^ Kelly Kizer Whitt (28 September 2023). "Sycamore Gap tree in the UK, remembered in images". earthsky.org. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
18. ^ "TV crew hurt in air crash". BBC News. 30 May 2003. Archived from the original on 7 October 2003. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
19. ^ "Star gardener escapes 'copter death". Evening Chronicle. 30 May 2003. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
20. ^ a b Vinter, Robyn; Halliday, Josh (28 September 2023). "Boy, 16, arrested after felling of famous Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian's Wall". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
21. ^ "World famous Sycamore Gap believed to have been 'deliberately felled'". ITV News. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
22. ^ Smith, Rory (6 October 2023). "A Tree Was Felled. No One Heard It. How Do You Find Out Who Did It?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
23. ^ Vinter, Robyn (28 September 2023). "Famous Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian's Wall found cut down". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
24. ^ Sleator, Laurence; Vaughan, Adam (28 September 2023). "Arrest after Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian's Wall 'deliberately felled'". The Times. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
25. ^ a b Robinson, Chris (13 December 2023). "Sycamore Gap tree: the story so far". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
26. ^ "Man faces no further action over Sycamore Gap damage". BBC News. 13 December 2023.
27. ^ Brown, Mark (9 May 2025). "Two men found guilty of felling Sycamore Gap tree". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
28. ^ "Sycamore Gap: Man pleads not guilty to cutting down tree". BBC News. 15 May 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
29. ^ "Jury selected in trial of two men accused of felling Sycamore Gap tree". The Northern Echo. 28 April 2025.
30. ^ "Sycamore Gap tree felling trial under way – How the jury was selected". BBC News. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
31. ^ "Sycamore Gap tree felling trial under way – The prosecution begins". BBC News. 29 April 2025. Retrieved 29 April 2025.
32. ^ "Second man denies felling famous Sycamore gap tree". BBC News. 12 June 2024. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
33. ^ "Date set for Sycamore Gap tree felling trial". BBC News. 10 February 2025. Archived from the original on 10 February 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
34. ^ "Friends filmed themselves chopping down Sycamore Gap tree, jury told". The Independent. 29 April 2025.
35. ^ "Watch: Sycamore Gap video footage of 'tree being chopped down'". The Independent. 30 April 2025.
36. ^ "Sycamore Gap tree suspect thought it would be 'good trophy', court told". The Independent. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
37. ^ "Sycamore Gap tree: Live updates from sentencing". BBC News. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
38. ^ Gross, Jenny (29 September 2023). "Beloved Tree in England is Felled in 'Act of Vandalism'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
39. ^ Staff Reporter (11 October 2023). "Felled Sycamore Gap tree to be removed by crane". Ireland Live. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
40. ^ Mark Brown (5 October 2023). "Felling of Sycamore Gap tree damaged Hadrian's Wall, inspection reveals". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
41. ^ Samantha Jagger (5 October 2023). "Sycamore Gap: Hadrian's Wall damage found after tree cut down". BBC News. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
42. ^ Bradshaw, Harriet; Rannard, Georgina (8 March 2024). "Sycamore Gap: New life springs from rescued tree". BBC News. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
43. ^ Manning, Jonny; Mucklejohn, Piers (27 May 2024). "King receives Sycamore Gap tree seedlings". BBC News. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
44. ^ Brown, Mark (9 May 2025). "'Stealing joy': the sadness and symbolism of the crime at Sycamore Gap". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
45. ^ "Sycamore Gap: One Year On exhibition". SILL National Landscape Discovery Centre. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
46. ^ Brown, Mark (27 September 2024). "Sycamore Gap tree exhibition opens to mark a year since its felling". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
47. ^ Spencer, Katie (20 June 2025). "Director Danny Boyle on how 28 Years Later could be seen as an allegory for Brexit". Sky News. Retrieved 6 July 2025.

## Further reading

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sycamore Gap.