Sycamore Gap tree – latest: Man in his sixties arrested after felling of tree as teen released on bail

A man in his sixties has been arrested in connection with the felling of the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree after a teenager was released on bail.

Sycamore Gap, thought to be around 300 years old, was made famous by actor Kevin Costner when it appeared in his 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, and was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trust’s awards. It has become one of the most photographed trees in the UK.

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney-Menzies, of Northumbria Police, said: “The senseless destruction of what is undoubtedly a world-renowned landmark – and a local treasure – has quite rightly resulted in an outpour shock, horror and anger throughout the North East and further afield.

“I hope this second arrest demonstrates just how seriously we’re taking this situation, and our ongoing commitment to find those responsible and bring them to justice.

“Although another arrest has been made, this investigation is still in the early stages, and we would continue to encourage any members of the public with information which may assist to get in touch.”

Key Points

• Tree’s destruction ‘part of the broader war on nature'

• Hairy Bikers say Sycamore Gap tree culprit ‘murdered spirit of Northumberland’

• Crowdfunding page raises more than £1,700 for rejuvenation of Sycamore Gap

• New shoots expected to grow from Sycamore Gap tree but it ‘won’t be the same again'

• LBC host argues felling of Sycamore Gap tree represents the ‘cultural glue’ being ‘splintered'

• Man in his 60s arrested following felling of Sycamore Gap tree

Officers vow to bring Sycamore slayer to justice

11:20 , Lydia Patrick

A full investigation has been launched after the Sycamore Gap Tree was felled overnight in what officers believe to be a deliberate act of vandalism.

The tree is a world-renowned landmark and the vandalism has caused shock and anger throughout the local community and beyond.

Superintendent Kevin Waring, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an incredibly sad day. The tree was iconic to the North East and enjoyed by so many who live in or who have visited this region.

“As a Force, are fully committed to finding out the full circumstances and we will consider every tactic at our disposal in this investigation.

“Anyone found to have been responsible for this damage – which we believe to be a deliberate act of vandalism – can expect to be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

“I would ask anyone who saw anything suspicious or knows anything that can assist our investigation to get in touch with us.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness, said: “I’m devastated that the famous Sycamore is gone. That tree was ours. It was an iconic North East landmark standing tall in our beautiful Northumberland.

“I am incandescent that this looks like a deliberate act of vandalism. I’ll be raising this personally today.

“I know Northumbria Police are at the scene and officers will do their utmost to catch whoever is behind this. Terrible news.”

New petition launched to serve justice for the Sycamore Gap

10:20 , Lydia Patrick

A passionate preservation activist has called for the ‘vandals’ behind the felling of the Sycamore to plant 10,000 trees in an online petition.

Kim Whitehouse laments the loss of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree which stood on Hadrian’s Wall and calls for tough measures to legally reprimand the culprits.

It is not yet clear who was responsible for the felling.

Northumbria Police are currently investigating the incident, they arrested a man aged in his 60s on Friday on suspicion of criminal damage but he has since been released, pending further inquiries.

A relative posted a picture of the retired lumberjack at home with his grandson as they denied his involvement in the felling.

A boy, 16, who was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage on Thursday, was later released on bail.

On Sunday reports said officers seized a chainsaw near the site where the tree was cut down.

Ms Whitehouse said: “ Therefore to ensure meaningful restitution for their crime against nature and history, I recommend that each person involved in this heinous act commit to planting 10000 trees in the local community. This commitment will help restore some balance while fostering an appreciation for nature’s resilience among those responsible.By signing this petition today, you are joining me in demanding justice for the Sycamore Gap tree and advocating for a punishment that fits the crime. Together, we can send a powerful message that our historical landmarks and natural treasures must be protected at all costs.”

The petition aims to get 1,000 signatures and has received 774 supporters so far.

‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does’, say experts

09:20 , Lydia Patrick

“Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does,” is the devastating verdict of experts on the iconic Sycamore Gap tree after it was felled.

With police believing it to be a deliberate act of vandalism, the chainsaw-cutting down of the world-famous tree next to Hadrian’s Wall, in Northumberland, has triggered widespread outrage and sorrow.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation on Thursday after the majestic Sycamore Gap tree, thought to be around 300 years old, was cut down overnight. The force arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the incident but has since released him on bail.

A man in his sixties was arrested on Friday evening. He remains in police custody.

Sycamore Gap: ‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does’

Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree

08:20 , Lydia Patrick

Who cut it down and can the Sycamore Gap tree be saved?

Those are the questions still at the forefront of the minds of tree lovers everywhere from Northumberland to Newquay some four days after the iconic maple was chopped down.

Distraught celebrities and politicians were among those to express their outrage at the felling of the “iconic” tree, described by police as a “deliberate act of vandalism”.

Here’s everything we know so far as officers continue to hunt for the culprit.

Read the full story here

Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree

Watch: Nature expert calls for ‘sycamore gap forest’ to replace felled tree at Hadrian’s Wall

06:59 , Andy Gregory

New shoots expected to grow from Sycamore Gap tree but it ‘won’t be same again’

05:51 , Andy Gregory

New shoots are expected to grow from the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree but it will never be the same again, experts have said.

Rob Ternent, head gardener at The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland, said the tree will start growing again but “won’t ever be the same shape or as good of a tree as it was”.

He told the PA news agency: “It’s worth a try but I think livestock and wildlife will potentially damage it as well. It’ll be very difficult to get it back to the original tree.

“The growing season’s coming to an end now but by spring next year it will have some life in it. It’ll probably be about eight foot tall, but it’ll be lots of singular branches, more bushy.

“It was about 300 years old so it’ll take a long time to get back to that size. It’s a massive shame.”

Katie Dickinson has the story here:

New shoots expected to grow from Sycamore Gap tree but it ‘won’t be same again’

Watch: 300-year-old tree stars in 90s classic Robin Hood movie before vandalism

04:42 , Andy Gregory

Why is the Sycamore Gap tree so significant?

03:36 , Matt Mathers

The tree, believed to have been one of the most photographed in the country, used to sit along Hadrian’s Wall – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – in rural Northumberland and was a popular hotspot for tourists, walkers and others.

It is believed to have dated back to medieval times and has been excavated on two occasions – between 1908 and 1911, and again between 1982 and 1987 when Roman remains linked to Hadrian’s Wall were found.

The sycamore perhaps first became known around the globe after featuring in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman.

Voices | From George I to Charles III, the Sycamore Gap tree saw British history unfold

02:31 , Andy Gregory

Our associate editor Sean O’Grady writes:

I’m not quite sure why trees can have such a powerful hold on us, but it’s a remarkable, almost spiritual phenomenon. We sense they are living things – often venerable, always graceful, occasionally of stunning beauty.

As has been rightly observed, the sycamore that stood by Hadrian’s Wall for 300 years was handsome enough to be a film star, and its performance in the 1991 version of the tale of Robin Hood was hardly wooden.

Seeing it lying there, stricken, helpless, slowly dying makes one irrationally depressed – it’s only a tree, you try to tell yourself. I’d never met the tree, after all. But, like many of us, it was a sad sight. To those who had some connection with it – a marriage, a scattering of ashes, a habitual resting stop – its loss is more akin to a bereavement. Many tears have been shed.

I know it’s silly and anthropomorphic in a way, but you cannot help reflecting on what the sycamore “observed” since it was a sapling in the early 18th century – before Jane Austen had written her first novel, a century before Queen Victoria was born, and not that long after the English Civil War.

The tree, in a precarious gap, had survived countless assaults by nature including the great heatwave of 1911, the drought in 1976, the 1987 Great Storm and the freakish weather patterns of recent years. Not just two world wars, but the Napoleonic Wars and the revolt in the American colonies. It’s been there from George I to Charles III. It gave joy and solace to generations. Now it’s gone, and it, well, leaves a gap in every sense.

Nearly £5,000 raised to rejuvenate Sycamore Gap

01:20 , Andy Gregory

Fundraisers have raised £4,220 to help restore and rejuvenate the area where the Sycamore Gap stood.

Man ‘devastated’ after National Trust remove sapling he planted to replace Sycamore Gap

Tuesday 3 October 2023 00:16 , Andy Gregory

A man who planted a sapling near the Sycamore Gap tree says he is ‘devastated’ after it was removed - and has responded to those who have criticised him on social media.

Kieran Chapman, aged 27, told The Independent: “As a nation we’ve had a tough time with Covid and then this happened. I felt moved to plant the sapling as an act of sentiment and to show people we can move forward with something new.”

He added: “I was devastated when I heard it had been taken away. I really hope they do eventually plant a new tree there.”

Man devastated after National Trust remove sapling he planted to replace Sycamore Gap

Can the Sycamore Gap tree be saved?

Monday 2 October 2023 23:22 , Andy Gregory

Striking a note of optimism after the iconic Sycamore Gap tree was felled, experts have suggested it could be saved.

In an incident that caused widespread outrage and upset, the world-famous tree, next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, was chopped down overnight on Wednesday.

However, all hope is not lost, according to Andrew Poad of the National Trust, who pointed to the health of the ancient Sycamore Gap, which is thought to be around 300 years old, as giving reason to believe the tree could regrow.

Tara Cobham reports:

Can the Sycamore Gap tree be saved?

The Sycamore Gap Tree in pictures

Monday 2 October 2023 22:16 , Andy Gregory

A tourist attraction, a film location and a symbol of hope - the felled Sycamore Gap tree was many things to many people.

The 300 year-old natural beauty was one of the most photographed trees in the country and an iconic sight next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland.

My colleague Faiza Shaheen has this report carrying pictures of the tree:

The Sycamore Gap tree that stood tall for 300 years - in pictures

Watch: Walker lays flower tribute at historic Sycamore Gap after tree felling

Monday 2 October 2023 21:01 , Andy Gregory

A walker laid a floral tribute at Sycamore Gap in Northumberland after the tree was felled in what police have called a “deliberate act of vandalism”, reports my colleague Holly Patrick.

Footage posted on Twitter last Thursday by North of Tyne Combined Authority shows a walker laying flowers near the tree stump close to Hadrian’s Wall.

‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does’, say experts

Monday 2 October 2023 20:02 , Andy Gregory

“Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does,” is the devastating verdict of experts on the iconic Sycamore Gap tree after it was felled, my colleague Tara Cobham reports.

With police believing it to be a deliberate act of vandalism, the chainsaw-cutting down of the world-famous tree next to Hadrian’s Wall, in Northumberland, has triggered widespread outrage and sorrow.

While in such harsh, rocky and exposed conditions, which slow down growth, the Sycamore Gap tree could take up to 200 years to reach a similar size to what it was a few days ago, said Mark Feather, UK estate manager for conservation charity The Woodland Trust.

He added that even though there is a “chance” of regrowth, this is not guaranteed, especially because of the great age and size of the tree. “Hopefully it will,” he said. “But this is not a given certainty. Time will tell.”

If the Sycamore Gap tree does succeed in resprouting, said it is “unlikely” it would return to its former statuesque shape, and would instead probably become a “bushy tree with multiple stems at the base”.

Sycamore Gap: ‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does’

Watch: 300-year-old Sycamore Gap tree stars in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Monday 2 October 2023 18:34 , Andy Gregory

Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree

Monday 2 October 2023 17:52 , Andy Gregory

Who cut it down and can the Sycamore Gap Tree be saved?

Those are the questions still at the forefront of the minds of tree lovers everywhere from Northumberland to Newquay some four days after the iconic maple was chopped down.

Distraught celebrities and politicians were among those to express their outrage at the felling of the “iconic”, described by police as a “deliberate act of vandalism”

My colleague Matt Mathers has everything we know so far as officers continue to hunt for the culprit.

Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree

When was the tree cut down?

Monday 2 October 2023 17:10 , Matt Mathers

Reports first emerged that the tree had been felled overnight on 27 September.

Northumberland Police vowed to bring those responsible to justice in what officers believed was a “deliberate act of vandalism” and launched an investigation.

The National Trust, which manages the land where the tree stood, said it was “shocked and saddened” to learn of the news.

It subsequently closed the site where the tree was located.

Fundraisers set up

Monday 2 October 2023 16:37 , Matt Mathers

Fundraising efforts have been set up by well-wishers who want to see the area where the tree stood rejuvenated.

Some locals had complained that the area around Hadrian’s Wall had been overfarmed, with sheep often roaming the fields where it stands.

One fundraiser, which planned to give funds to the National Trust, had raised nearly £5,000 as of Monday afternoon.

Man ‘devastated’ after National Trust remove sapling he planted to replace Sycamore Gap

Monday 2 October 2023 15:56 , Andy Gregory

A man who planted a sapling near the Sycamore Gap tree says he is ‘devastated’ after it was removed – and has responded to those who have criticised him on social media, reports my colleague Alex Ross.

Kieran Chapman, aged 27, planted the sapling next to the world-famous tree at Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland on Friday. The old tree, thought to be around 300 years old, was illegally chopped down overnight last Wednesday.

But on Sunday, the National Trust removed Mr Chapman’s newly-planted sapling. A spokesperson said that by adding or altering the Unesco world heritage site, it could “damage the archaeology”, and was unlawful.

Mr Chapman told The Independent: “As a nation we’ve had a tough time with Covid and then this happened. I felt moved to plant the sapling as an act of sentiment and to show people we can move forward with something new.”

He added: “I was devastated when I heard it had been taken away. I really hope they do eventually plant a new tree there.”

Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree

Can the tree be regrown or will it have to be replaced?

Monday 2 October 2023 15:07 , Matt Mathers

Andrew Poad of the National Trust has pointed to the health of the three as one reason to believe it could be regrown, telling the BBC: “It’s a very healthy tree, we can see that now because of the condition of the stump.

“It may well regrow a coppice from the stump. And if we could nurture that, then that might be one of the best outcomes, and then we keep the tree.”

But any effort to regrow the tree is likely to take hundreds of years, according to Mark Feather, UK estate manager for conservation charity, the Woodland Trust. He told of his upset and warned that while it took minutes to cut the tree down it could take “literally centuries to grow back”.

He added that even though there is a “chance” of regrowth, this is not guaranteed, especially because of the great age and size of the tree. “Hopefully it will,” he said. “But this is not a given certainty. Time will tell.”

Then, if the Sycamore Gap tree does succeed in resprouting, he said it is “unlikely” it would return to its former statuesque shape, and would instead probably become a “bushy tree with multiple stems at the base”.

Why is the Sycamore Gap tree so significant?

Monday 2 October 2023 14:38 , Matt Mathers

The tree, believed to have been one of the most photographed in the country, used to sit along Hadrian’s Wall – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – in rural Northumberland and was a popular hotspot for tourists, walkers and others.

It is believed to have dated back to medieval times and has been excavated on two occasions – between 1908 and 1911, and again between 1982 and 1987 when Roman remains linked to Hadrian’s Wall were found.

The sycamore perhaps first became known around the globe after featuring in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman.

Holly Willoughby mourns ‘world famous' Sycamore Gap

Monday 2 October 2023 13:30 , Barney Davis

Holly Willoughby and This Morning co-host Josie Gibson invited viewers to share their memories of the Sycamore Gap tree, which became world famous in the blockbuster epic Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Holly told viewers: “It’s the world famous tree that has stood in the Sycamore Gap, a dip along Hadrian’s Wall for around 300 years.”

Jodie added: “But last week, rangers discovered it had been felled overnight, in what Northumbria Police are investigating as a deliberate act of vandalism.”

Holly remarked: “It’s so awful; isn’t it?” she remarked going on to note the globe-spanning mourning for the tree.

As she crossed to outdoors expert Ray Mears, as he commented: “It’s a pretty sad week isn’t it? The loss of one of our veteran trees.”

Monday 2 October 2023 11:46 , Barney Davis

A chainsaw has been recovered from the farm of a man released on bail in connection with the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.

Police search teams took away a chainsaw in an evidence bag from a barn on Plankey Mill Farm in Northumberland which is taped off after they arrested a second man.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “A male in his 60s was arrested in connection with the incident. He has since been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.”

A boy, 16, who was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage on Thursday was later released on bail.

Family of bailed retired lumberjack angered by arrest

Monday 2 October 2023 11:09 , Barney Davis

The family of a now bailed lumberjack accused of chopping the Sycamore Gap tree down have strongly refuted it was him as he has two heart valves.

Walter Renwick, 69, who was arrested in connection with criminal damage after the tree was bailed has been bailed and declared his innocence as he returned home to a farm where police found a large chainsaw.

When he was in custody, his daughter-in-law Lauren said he was there for something he ‘hasn’t even done’.

“He’s got two leaking heart valves. He’s never fit enough to get up there,” she told the Times. “He’s down here living like f***ing Bear Grylls.”

He was seen by reporters returning to his stone property that he was evicted from in recent weeks.

Man in 60s bailed in Sycamore Gap investigation

Monday 2 October 2023 09:45 , Barney Davis

Police have released an arrested man, in his 60s, on bail after the Sycamore Gap tree was felled.

Northumbria Police said the man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage on Friday and was released on bail pending further inquiries.

A relative posted a picture of the lumberjack at home with his grandson as they denied his involvement in the felling.

The force said the investigation remains ongoing.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “A male in his 60s was arrested in connection with the incident. He has since been released on police bail, pending further enquiries.”

A boy, 16, who was also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage on Thursday was later released on bail.

Gemma Collins mourns loss of Sycamore Gap tree

Monday 2 October 2023 09:04 , Barney Davis

Reality queen Gemma Collins has said she has been mourning the loss of Sycamore Gap all weekend, in a heartbreaking Instagram post.

The GC wrote: “Today my post is for the SYCAMORE GAP. I was extremely shocked and saddened all weekend to think this tree was destroyed in a senseless act …. I thought about the tree all weekend and was very upset.

“If we do not respect nature now we will suffer in years to come.”

The almost 300-year-old sycamore was chopped down overnight on Wednesday in “a deliberate act of vandalism”, sparking a police investigation.

Young sapling planted at Sycamore Gap site removed by National Trust

Monday 2 October 2023 08:11 , Barney Davis

A man who planted a sapling where the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down to “give people hope” has spoken of his devastation after it was removed by the National Trust.

The National Trust dug up the young tree brought by 27-year-old Kieran Chapman from a local garden centre and planted metres away from the tragic stump.

Speaking to the Newcastle Chronicle, he said he planted the tree to “restore people’s faith in humanity, bring a smile back to people’s faces and just give them a bit of hope.”

A National Trust spokesperson said moved to deter other would-be planters. They said: “We understand the strength of feeling following the events at Sycamore Gap this week – and are grateful for the many offers of support and good wishes we’ve received from near and far. It’s important for everyone to remember that the site is a scheduled ancient monument and a globally important archaeological setting, with Unesco world heritage designation, and that altering or adding to it can damage the archaeology, and is unlawful without prior consent from government.”

Nearly £5,000 raised to rejuvenate Sycamore Gap

Monday 2 October 2023 06:00 , Lydia Patrick

Fundraisers have raised £4,220 to help restore and rejuvenate the area where the Sycamore Gap stood.

Alncom's fundraiser for National Trust

In pictures - The Sycamore Gap tree

Monday 2 October 2023 05:00 , Lydia Patrick

‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back'

Monday 2 October 2023 04:00 , Lydia Patrick

“Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does,” is the devastating verdict of experts on the iconic Sycamore Gap tree after it was felled.

With police believing it to be a deliberate act of vandalism, the chainsaw-cutting down of the world-famous tree next to Hadrian’s Wall, in Northumberland, has triggered widespread outrage and sorrow.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation on Thursday after the majestic Sycamore Gap tree, thought to be around 300 years old, was cut down overnight. The force arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the incident but has since released him on bail.

A man in his sixties was arrested on Friday evening. He remains in police custody.

Read the full story here

Sycamore Gap: ‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does’

Watch - Hairy Biker shares his fury

Monday 2 October 2023 03:00 , Lydia Patrick

‘I wrote The Secret Life of Trees – here’s why the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree was so significant'

Monday 2 October 2023 02:00 , Lydia Patrick

Author Colin Tudge explores why the felling of the tree could mark a shift in collective mindset

I’m a tree expert – here’s how the Sycamore Gap tree ‘felt’ as it fell | Colin Tudge

What happened to the Sycamore Gap tree?

Monday 2 October 2023 01:00 , Lydia Patrick

Watch - the site where the tree was culled

Monday 2 October 2023 00:00 , Lydia Patrick

Can the Sycamore Gap tree be saved?

Sunday 1 October 2023 23:00 , Lydia Patrick

Striking a note of optimism after the iconic Sycamore Gap tree was felled, experts have suggested it could be saved.

In an incident that caused widespread outrage and upset, the world-famous tree, next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, was chopped down overnight on Wednesday.

However, all hope is not lost, according to Andrew Poad of the National Trust, who pointed to the health of the ancient Sycamore Gap, which is thought to be around 300 years old, as giving reason to believe the tree could regrow.

Read the full story here

Can the Sycamore Gap tree be saved?

Important new update in tree felling investigation

Sunday 1 October 2023 22:00 , Lydia Patrick

Northumbria Police recovered a ‘massive chainsaw’ from a farm eight miles away from the site where the Sycamore Gap stood, report the Mail.

The power tool was seized from Plankey Mill farm as police searched the home of ex lumberjack, Walter Renwick, 69, who has taken to social media to vehemently deny his involvement in the destruction of the tree.

A renewed sense of gratitude for trees

Sunday 1 October 2023 21:00 , Lydia Patrick

As mourners share tributes to the fallen Sycamore Gap tree, people are expressing their admiration for other natural leafy landmarks.

National Trust says tree will regrow ‘as multiple stems’ in less ‘dramatic’ way

Sunday 1 October 2023 20:00 , Tara Cobham

The Sycamore Gap tree will regrow “as multiple stems” and will therefore not have “the same dramatic effect” as the original, the National Trust has said.

In a post on Twitter, it wrote: “[The Sycamore Gap tree] will however grow as multiple stems, rather than a single stem tree. 

“This will obviously maintain the legacy of the original tree, but unfortunately it won’t have the same dramatic effect in the landscape as the original.”

In pictures: The majesty of the Sycamore Gap tree

Sunday 1 October 2023 19:00 , Tara Cobham

The Sycamore Gap tree that stood tall for 300 years - in pictures

‘Trees are at threat across the country,’ says expert

Sunday 1 October 2023 18:00 , Tara Cobham

Tree vandalism happens frequently across the country, according to the chief executive officer at The Arboricultural Association.

In the aftermath of the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, John Parker told The Independent: “This is a very notable and public example of what we’re dealing with all of the time, the damage that can be inflicted by someone in a relatively short space of time after decades of care. Trees are at threat across the country.”

Watch: GB News host says Sycamore Gap is ‘just a tree’

Sunday 1 October 2023 17:00 , Tara Cobham

‘Minutes to cut down and centuries if it grows back,' say experts

Sunday 1 October 2023 16:02 , Tara Cobham

“Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does,” is the devastating verdict of experts on the iconic Sycamore Gap tree after it was felled.

With police believing it to be a deliberate act of vandalism, the chainsaw-cutting down of the world-famous tree next to Hadrian’s Wall, in Northumberland, has triggered widespread outrage and sorrow.

Northumbria Police launched an investigation on Thursday after the majestic Sycamore Gap tree, thought to be around 300 years old, was cut down overnight. The force arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the incident but has since released him on bail.

A man in his sixties was arrested on Friday evening. He remains in police custody.

As the force’s inquiries continued on Friday, questions remained over the ancient tree’s felling and future.

Read more:

Sycamore Gap: ‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does’

Police yet to issue update after man arrested

Sunday 1 October 2023 14:36 , Tara Cobham

Northumbria Police are yet to issue an update after the force arrested a man in his 60s on Friday following the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.

A teenager who was also arrested in connection with the incident was released on bail on Friday.

Robin Hood actor tells of heartbreak but faith Sycamore Gap ‘will survive’

Sunday 1 October 2023 14:14 , Tara Cobham

Robin Hood actor Brian Blessed has told of his heartbreak over the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree but faith that “it will survive”.

The 86-year-old former president of the Council for National Parks said the destruction of the tree, which featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Price of Thieves, was “beyond comprehension”.

Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said of the “deeply honoured” Sycamore Gap: “It will survive and it will be very bushy.”

The actor, who starred in the film as Robin Hood’s father Lord Locksley, also suggested park bosses plant another tree. “You know, give it company and plant another tree a good 200 yards or 300 yards to keep it company,” he said. “It will talk to it, it will help it.”

Telling of how “heartbroken” he is at the loss of Sycamore Gap, he added: “There was a wonderful Sycamore tree... they’re wonderful with their big leaves and someone has cut it down.

“People have gone there and it brought joy to them, people have left their ashes there when they’ve died, they’ve got married there, and all kinds of lovely events have taken place.”

Watch: Nature expert calls for ‘sycamore gap forest’

Sunday 1 October 2023 14:01 , Tara Cobham