The famous Sycamore Gap along Hadrian’s Wall in the north east of England is now without its ancient sycamore after what is speculated to have been an act of mindless vandalism.
Situated perfectly within a gap along the remains of Hadrian’s Wall, a World Heritage Site, the sycamore was much-loved within Northumberland and was regarded as a symbol of the north east. It also formed one of the highlights along two world-famous long-distance trails, the Pennine Way and the Hadrian’s Wall Path.
Voted English tree of the year in a Woodland Trust competition in 2016 and featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the tree is thought to have been felled deliberately. Photographs taken on Thursday morning show it appears to have been sawed at its base with a chainsaw.
In a statement, Northumberland national park authority said it “can confirm that sadly, the famous tree at Sycamore Gap has come down overnight. We have reason to believe it has been deliberately felled. We are working with the relevant agencies and partners with an interest in this iconic north-east landmark and will issue more details once they are known.
