Britain’s most famous tree at Sycamore Gap felled in ‘deliberate act of vandalism’

Britain’s Sycamore Gap tree, a much-loved landmark whose dramatic silhouette featured in a Hollywood movie and was photographed by tourists from around the world, was cut down overnight in what police called a “deliberate act of vandalism”.

Police said they had arrested a 16-year old male in connection with the felling of the statuesque sycamore in northern England, which is set in a natural dip in the otherwise treeless, sweeping landscape alongside Roman landmark Hadrian’s Wall.

***General view of the Sycamore Gap tree that was felled, in Northumberland, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Lee Smith***

Thousands of visitors each year walk along Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that guarded the Roman Empire’s northwestern frontier.

It was also known as the ‘Robin Hood Tree’ after featuring in the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”.

Photographs showed the tree, estimated to be hundreds of years old and voted “English Tree of the Year” in 2016, lying on its side across the wall next to a freshly-cut stump.

***People look at the Sycamore Gap tree that was felled, in Northumberland, Britain, September 28, 2023. (Owen Humphreys/PA via AP)***

“This is a world-renowned landmark and the events of today have caused significant shock, sadness and anger throughout the local community and beyond,” said Superintendent Kevin Waring, of Northumbria Police.

“The tree was iconic to the North East and enjoyed by so many who live in or who have visited this region. An investigation was immediately launched following this vandalism, and this afternoon we have arrested one suspect in connection with our enquiries.”

The National Trust, who look after the site alongside Northumberland National Park, said it was “shocked and desperately saddened”, while local lawmaker Guy Opperman said everyone was “bereft”.

“This is criminal damage and an attack on one of the nation’s most famous trees,” Opperman said on social media.

***FILE PHOTO: A general view of the stars above the Sycamore Gap prior to Perseid Meteor shower, near Henshaw, Northumberland, Britain August 13, 2015. (AP photo/Scott Heppell)***

The Northumberland National Park authority asked the public not to visit the felled tree.

Alison Hawkins, who was walking on the Hadrian’s Wall path, was one of the first people who saw the damage early Thursday.

“It was a proper shock. It’s basically the iconic picture that everyone wants to see,” she said. “You can forgive nature doing it but you can’t forgive that.” (AP/Reuters)