Sycamore Gap tree – latest: Hadrian’s Wall damaged as National Trust flooded with offers of help
National Trust says it is ‘beginning discussions with stakeholders about future of site’
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Hadrian’s Wall has been damaged by the vandals who chopped down the Sycamore Gap tree, investigators have discovered.
Historic England said it found “some damage” had been caused to the 1,900-year-old wall, one of Britain’s best-known Unesco world heritage sites, in a preliminary inspection.
A spokesperson for the historical preservation body told The Independent: “While we identified that Hadrian’s Wall has sustained some damage, we have not been able to access the site to carry out a full investigation so a further archaeological appraisal will take place once the site is considered safe.
It comes as The National Trust, which manages the land in Northumberland where the iconic tree once stood, said it has been “overwhelmed” with thousands of messages of support and over 150 offers of help.
The charity told The Independent its immediate priority has been ensuring the safety of the tree and it is still working on plans for the safe removal of Sycamore Gap. But the spokesperson added that The National Trust is “beginning discussions with stakeholders about the future of the site”.
Police previously arrested a 16-year-old boy and a man, aged in his 60s, in connection with the incident. Both have since been released on bail.
Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree
The Sycamore Gap Tree in pictures as nature lovers ‘shocked and saddened’ by felling
Sycamore Gap tree: ‘Minutes to cut down and centuries to grow back, if it ever does’, say experts
Sycamore Gap: 300-year-old tree stars in 90s classic Robin Hood movie before vandalism
National Trust collect seed and cuttings from Sycamore Gap
Seed and cuttings from the Sycamore Gap tree have been collected by National Trust rangers and horticultural specialists, it has been confirmed.
The National Trust said the material is now with its Plant Conservation Centre team of specialist propagators “while the charity decides the best way forward”.
It added that it received special permission from DEFRA to collect the seed and cuttings.
Sycamore Gap Tree in pictures
The Sycamore Gap tree that stood tall for 300 years - in pictures
A natural beauty which will be remembered by many people across the country
National Trust confirms Sycamore Gap tree is still at site
The Sycamore Gap tree is still at the site of its felling, the National Trust has confirmed.
It said it is still working on plans for the safe removal of the tree from where it once stood.
Man ‘devastated’ after sapling to replace Sycamore Gap removed
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, 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.
Alex Ross reports:
Man devastated after National Trust remove sapling he planted to replace Sycamore Gap
Kieran Chapman has also responded to those who have criticised his move to plant the sapling
Watch: Walker lays flower tribute at historic Sycamore Gap
Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree
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.
Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree
Police continue to hunt culprit amid outpuring of grief over ‘debliberate act of vandalism’
Crochet tribute to Sycamore Gap in nearby high street
Two women in Northumberland have crocheted a postbox topper in a “lovely” tribute to the historic Sycamore Gap tree that was felled last week.
Carrie Page, 51, and Christine Hopper, 63, worked together to crochet the decorative topper featuring a green base and tree in the centre with varying shades of green leaves and branches.
The pair, who own separate shops in the same building opposite the postbox in Hexham, around 14 miles from the site of the Sycamore Gap tree, were motivated to create the tribute after locals were “angry, shocked and upset” at its destruction.
They placed the topper – which was dubbed “such a lovely gesture” by a local resident – outside their shops on September 30, and have since seen people taking photos of their work and sharing it on social media.
After 300 years of weather and two world wars, the Sycamore Gap tree could not survive the spite of a saw
In her latest exclusive poem, Frieda Hughes mourns the late, great tree at Hadrian’s Wall – and also muses on what it feels like to be a ‘fugitive’ in London, late at night...
Read the poem in full here:
300 years of weather, two world wars: the Sycamore Gap tree is gone | Frieda Hughes
In her latest exclusive poem, Frieda Hughes mourns the late, great tree at Hadrian’s Wall – and also muses on what it feels like to be a ‘fugitive’ in London, late at night...
There’s no such thing as ‘just a tree’ – here are some that make me go ‘wow’
Broadcaster Alastair Campbell has become as well known for his daily picture posts of trees as he is for his political punditry. Here, he reflects on why the Hadrian’s Wall sycamore matters and some of his recent favourite tree ‘spots’
Read Alastair’s full piece here:
There’s no such thing as ‘just a tree’ – here are some that make me go ‘wow’
Broadcaster Alastair Campbell has become as well known for his daily picture posts of trees as he is for his political punditry. Here, he reflects on why the Hadrian’s Wall sycamore matters and some of his recent favourite tree ‘spots’
ICYMI: Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree
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.
Full report:
Everything we know about the felled Sycamore Gap tree
Police continue to hunt culprit amid outpuring of grief over ‘debliberate act of vandalism’
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