Sycamore Gap Tree facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sycamore Gap Tree |
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View of the tree from the south in October 2020. Hadrian's Wall is visible to the left of and in front of the tree.
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| Species | Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) |
| Location | Near Crag Lough, Northumberland, England |
| Coordinates | 55°00′13″N 2°22′26″W / 55.00356°N 2.37387°W |
| Date felled | 28 September 2023 |
| Custodian | National Trust and Northumberland National Park |
The Sycamore Gap Tree was a very famous sycamore tree in Northumberland, England. It stood right next to Hadrian's Wall in a beautiful dip in the land. Many people called it the Robin Hood Tree because it appeared in the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
This tree was one of the most photographed trees in the whole country. In 2016, it even won the award for England's Tree of the Year. Sadly, the tree was cut down on September 28, 2023.
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Where the Sycamore Gap Tree Stood
The Sycamore Gap Tree was located in northern England, in a county called Northumberland. It was right by Hadrian's Wall, which is an ancient Roman wall. The tree stood between two specific points on the wall: Milecastle 39 and Crag Lough. It was about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of a place called Housesteads Roman Fort.
This part of Hadrian's Wall follows the edge of a tall cliff. The land here has several sharp dips. These dips were formed by melting ice from glaciers long ago. The Sycamore Gap Tree grew in one of these dips. The cliff and the wall rose dramatically on both sides of it. The land where the tree stood is looked after by the National Trust, a group that protects important places.
The tree was a very popular spot for tourists. Many people visited to take pictures of it. It was said to be one of the most photographed trees in the country. The area around it might even be the most photographed spot in all of Northumberland National Park. You could even see the tree from the nearby B6318 Military Road. The name "Sycamore Gap" was created by someone from the National Trust. They named it when mapmakers asked for a name for the previously unnamed spot.
The Tree's Story
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The Sycamore Gap Tree was a type of tree called a sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). It was hundreds of years old. Long ago, other trees stood next to it. But over time, these other trees were removed. No one knows exactly why they were taken away. It might have been to make the views better or for hunting purposes.
The tree became very famous after it appeared in the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. In the film, it was part of an important scene. Because of this, many people started calling it the "Robin Hood Tree." It also showed up in the music video for the song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" by Bryan Adams. This video was often shown on the British TV show Top of the Pops. The tree also appeared in other TV shows, like the crime drama Vera and the documentary series More Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green.
In 2003, the tree was very lucky. A helicopter that was filming a show crashed only about 30 meters (98 feet) away. Luckily, the tree was not damaged, and the people on board the helicopter only had minor injuries.
Awards and Protection Efforts
In 2016, the Sycamore Gap Tree was chosen to compete in England's Tree of the Year competition. It was picked from 200 other trees to be one of the top 10. The tree won the competition with 2,542 votes out of nearly 12,000 votes!
The prize for winning was £1000. This money was used to check how healthy the tree was. It also helped pay for work to protect the tree's roots. Many people walked over the roots, which was starting to expose them. Protecting the roots was important for the tree's health. In 2017, the Sycamore Gap Tree also competed in the European Tree of the Year awards. It came in 5th place out of 16 trees, getting 7,123 votes.
The Tree's Felling
On September 28, 2023, early in the morning, the Sycamore Gap Tree was cut down. The people in charge of Northumberland National Park believe it was done on purpose. It looked like the tree had been cut at its base with a chainsaw. Later that same day, the police arrested a teenager in connection with the tree being cut down.
See also
In Spanish: Sycamore Gap Tree para niños
