Sycamore Gap tree stump showing signs of regrowth
After being cut down three years ago, experts say the Sycamore Gap tree could be regrowing
- Published
A famous tree that was illegally cut down in 2023 is showing "encouraging" signs of growth, experts say.
The tree was around 300 years old and stood beside a part of Hadrian's Wall called Sycamore Gap in the North of England.
There was lots of anger when it was cut down, but now the National Trust, which owns the site the tree is on, is saying new shoots are growing on the stump that was left behind.
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What is the the Sycamore Gap tree?
It was one of the most photographed trees in the UK
The tree was planted there in the 1800s and grew, as the name suggests, in a gap in Hadrian's Wall, which is an historical landmark.
The tree was one of the UK's most photographed and was also known as Robin Hood's tree, as it appeared in the 1991 film Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves.
In 2016, it was named Tree of the Year in a competition organised by the Woodland Trust.
What happened to it?
Police launched an investigation immediately after the felled tree was found
On 28 September 2023, two men felled, or cut down, the iconic landmark.
An investigation was carried out, and it eventually found that two men from Cumbria were responsible.
They were jailed in 2025, but never explained why they did it.
What's happening with it now?
Some sprouts were spotted in 2024, but there are lots more now
Site owners the, National Trust, fenced off the stump to see if it would recover, and general manager Andrew Poad told the BBC he is "filled with hope by the way nature is taking its course".
He said: "These flourishing shoots are really encouraging and show the special measures we've taken, including reducing soil compaction around the roots and limiting human disturbance, are paying off."
Poad said the trust was grateful to visitors supporting their efforts to give the tree "the best possible chance to thrive".
He added: "We're monitoring the tree closely and, over time, our rangers will manage it depending on how it develops."
The tree has been fenced off since it was cut down in the hope it will recover
There are other things being done to preserve the famous tree, too.
For example, experts are growing new versions of it from its twigs and seeds.
It will take hundreds of years for any of these seeds to grow to the height of the original tree, but, if looked after, some of them could become adult trees in 25 years.
The seeds are being grown in a secret lab that holds the seeds of other famous trees - like Cambridge's Isaac Newton apple tree - in case something happens to them in the future.
Saplings were also given to community groups as part of a campaign called 'Trees of Hope'.
