A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after probably the most photographed timber within the nation was lower down.
The tree at Sycamore Gap, subsequent to Hadrian’s Wall and near the village of Once Brewed in Northumberland, was made well-known when it appeared within the 1991 Kevin Costner movie Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.
The 16-year-old boy is being held in police custody and is claimed to be aiding officers with their enquiries.
Superintendent Kevin Waring, of Northumbria Police, mentioned: “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 stays at a really early stage, we’re maintaining an open thoughts.
“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 mentioned: “[We] can affirm that sadly, the well-known tree at Sycamore Gap has come down in a single day.
“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 requested to not go to the positioning, close to 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, mentioned it was “shocked and saddened” by the felling of the tree, which was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 within the Woodland Trust’s awards.
Andrew Poad, the belief’s normal supervisor for Hadrian’s Wall and Tyne Valley, mentioned: “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.”
One knowledgeable mentioned he believed that it was unlikely the tree could possibly be saved.
John Parker, chief govt officer at The Arboricultural Association, informed 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 previous and a lower that massive, the shock will most likely kill what’s 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 labored with the affiliation since 2008 and has a level in arboriculture, described the tree’s felling as “absolutely terrible to see”.
However, Jon Stokes, from The Tree Council, mentioned 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 informed 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 seem, they are going to then take many many years to develop into a brand new tree – however there could also be an opportunity.
“We won’t know for sure until next spring – and we will just need to keep our fingers firmly crossed.”
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North of Tyne mayor, Jamie Driscoll, mentioned it could finally be as much as the National Trust, because the house owners of the land, to determine what to do with the tree.
He informed Sky News: “I have heard suggestions that the wood from the tree could be used to make some kind of monument.
“Whether it’s potential to take a slicing or a graft from the tree and replant it, that may take an arborist with extra technical talent than I’ve to give you these options – however actually we can be doing one thing.”
‘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 treasured to me as a result of I’d hoped we may revisit it as a household as our kids bought older,” he told Sky News.
“I selected the place to suggest as a result of the tree would develop with time and hopefully be there in 50 or 100 years. I’m gutted.”
People on social media expressed their disappointment 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 simply to its left, and is taken care of by each Northumberland National Park and the National Trust.
Photographer Steven Lomas wrote on X, previously referred to 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’m fairly devastated that the place I like most in Northumberland is basically no extra.”
Police and crime commissioner for the Northumbria area, Kim McGuinness, mentioned: “I’m devastated that the famous Sycamore is gone. That tree was ours. An iconic North East landmark.”
Anyone with info is requested to contact police.
Source: information.sky.com”