Sycamore Gap: Boy, 16, arrested after iconic tree at Hadrian’s Wall ‘deliberately felled’
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after one of the most photographed trees in the country was cut down.
The tree at Sycamore Gap, next to Hadrian’s Wall and close to the village of Once Brewed in Northumberland, was made famous when it appeared in the 1991 Kevin Costner film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.
The 16-year-old boy is being held in police custody and is said to be assisting officers with their enquiries.
Superintendent Kevin Waring, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is a world-renowned landmark and the events of today have caused significant shock, sadness and anger throughout the local community and beyond.
“Given our investigation remains at a very early stage, we are keeping an open mind.
“I am appealing to the public for information to assist us – if you have seen or heard anything suspicious that may be of interest to us, please let us know.”
The Northumberland National Park authority said: “[We] can confirm that sadly, the famous tree at Sycamore Gap has come down overnight.
“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.”
The public has been asked not to visit the site, near Crag Lough, “whilst we work with our partners to identify what has happened and to make the site safe”.
‘Shocked and saddened’
The National Trust, which owns the land, said it was “shocked and saddened” by the felling of the tree, which was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trust’s awards.
Andrew Poad, the trust’s general manager for Hadrian’s Wall and Tyne Valley, said: “The tree has been an important and iconic feature in the landscape for nearly 200 years and means a lot to the local community and to anyone who has visited the site.”
The tree at Sycamore Gap on Hadrian’s Wall is one of the most photographed trees in the UK
One expert said he believed that it was unlikely the tree could be saved.
John Parker, chief executive officer at The Arboricultural Association, told Sky News: “Coppicing [where a tree is deliberately cut near to its base] is something used in the management of trees and is a traditional method.
“But with a tree that old and a cut that big, the shock will probably kill what is left of the tree.
“There is a chance you might get shoots at the bottom – but the tree will never be able to re-establish itself to the way it was before.”
Mr Parker, who has worked with the association since 2008 and has a degree in arboriculture, described the tree’s felling as “absolutely terrible to see”.
However, Jon Stokes, from The Tree Council, said he remained hopeful.
“It is very difficult to know if it will survive for sure, as I haven’t seen it in person, but it’s worth having hope,” he told Sky News.
“At this time of year, trees begin to store energy in their roots for next year’s growing season – and it is possible that the tree may grow some new shoots next spring.
“If they do appear, they will then take many decades to grow into a new tree – but there may be a chance.
“We won’t know for sure until next spring – and we will just need to keep our fingers firmly crossed.”
Read more on Sky News:
Gary Lineker backs new BBC rules on presenters
Millions mistakenly believe they are allergic to penicillin
North of Tyne mayor, Jamie Driscoll, said it would ultimately be up to the National Trust, as the owners of the land, to decide what to do with the tree.
He told Sky News: “I have heard suggestions that the wood from the tree could be used to make some kind of monument.
“Whether it is possible to take a cutting or a graft from the tree and replant it, that will take an arborist with more technical skill than I have to come up with these suggestions – but certainly we will be doing something.”
‘Pretty devastated’
Brendon Hayward proposed to his wife Sinead in January 2019 beneath the tree.
The couple, who live in the area, married in September 2021 and have a 15-month-old son, and another baby on the way.
“The tree was precious to me because I’d hoped we could revisit it as a family as our children got older,” he told Sky News.
“I chose the place to propose because the tree would grow with time and hopefully be there in 50 or 100 years. I’m gutted.”
Brendon Hayward proposed under the Sycamore Gap in 2021
People on social media expressed their sadness and anger over the incident, with many calling it “horrific” or “sickening”.
The tree stood in a dip in Hadrian’s Wall, with the Roman Milecastle 39 just to its left, and is looked after by both Northumberland National Park and the National Trust.
Photographer Steven Lomas wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “I can’t even begin to describe how sad I am that the most beautiful and famous tree in England, Sycamore Gap, has either been cut down or blew down.
“I am pretty devastated that the place I love most in Northumberland is essentially no more.”
Police and crime commissioner for the Northumbria region, Kim McGuinness, said: “I’m devastated that the famous Sycamore is gone. That tree was ours. An iconic North East landmark.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall.
She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.
Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.
Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary
“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.
“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.
“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.
“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.
“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.
Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.
Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.
Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.
A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.
Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.
There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.
The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.
An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.
Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.
Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.
“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”
She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.
“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”
The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.
A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.
Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
Read more from Sky News:
Motorways closed after human remains found
Starmer asks US to stand by Ukraine
People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.
“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.
“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.
“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”
Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.
The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.
“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.
“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”
He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.
Politics latest: Starmer’s stinging rebuke of Reform
Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Will Trump and Starmer have a ‘Love Actually’ moment?
Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.
It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.
The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.
Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP
However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.
Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”
He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.
“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”
Read more:
Starmer tells Zelenskyy this is ‘significant moment’ for European security
Sombre Starmer and Europe confront emerging new world order
This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.
No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.
Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.
Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports11 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway