On Thursday, tragic news broke that one of the UK’s most iconic and photographed trees, the Sycamore Gap Tree, was “deliberately felled,” according to the manager of Northumberland National Park, where it stood.
This majestic maple, located near Hadrian’s Wall in northeast England, was known for its beauty and location in a spectacular landscape. It gained notoriety by appearing in Kevin Costner’s film “Robin Hood” in 1991. In 2016, it was named “tree of the year.”
Unfortunately, the tree fell in the night, and images on social media show that only a foot of its trunk remains. Local police have announced the start of an investigation to determine who or what caused this deliberate damage.
Local MP Mary Foy called the act a “silly act of vandalism” and “heartbreaking” for the north-east community. She stated that this sad event will cause pain to many people across the country and around the world.
On social media, local councilor Steven Bridgett noted that the tree was “no doubt chainsawed,” underscoring the deliberate nature of this act of destruction.
The loss of the Sycamore Gap tree is a blow not only to the natural beauty of the region but also to those who considered it an icon and a place of cultural significance. The news has caused great sadness and shock across the UK and beyond.