Sycamore Gap tree facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Sycamore Gap tree
View of the tree from the north in October 2020, before it was cut down in 2023. Hadrian's Wall is visible to the left of and in front of the tree.
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 / 55.00356; -2.37387
Height	approx. 49 feet (15 m) (formerly)
Date felled	28 September 2023 (2023-09-28)
Custodian	National Trust and Northumberland National Park

The Sycamore Gap tree, also known as the Robin Hood tree, was a famous sycamore tree in Northumberland, England. It stood for about 150 years next to Hadrian's Wall, near Crag Lough. In September 2023, the tree was cut down without permission. However, new shoots have since started growing from its base, showing it is still alive.

This special tree stood in a unique dip in the land. This dip was formed long ago by melting ice from glaciers. The Sycamore Gap tree was one of the most photographed trees in the country. It became an important symbol for the North East of England. It earned its "Robin Hood tree" name because it appeared in a famous scene in the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

In 2016, the tree was named England's Tree of the Year. This award was part of a yearly competition by the Woodland Trust. The competition celebrates important trees across the UK. As the winner for England, the Sycamore Gap tree received money to help take care of it.

The tree was cut down early in the morning on September 28, 2023. Police called this a "deliberate act of damage." Two men from Cumbria were arrested in October 2023. They were later accused in April 2024 of causing damage to both the tree and the nearby Hadrian's Wall. Their trial began on April 28, 2025, at Newcastle Crown Court. They were found guilty on May 9, 2025, and received prison sentences on July 15, 2025.

The tree's stump has started growing new shoots, showing it's still alive. Experts believe it will take over 150 years for the tree to grow back to its original size. Small pieces of the tree were also collected to try and grow new trees.

Where the Sycamore Gap Tree Stood
A Look Back: The Tree's Story
The Day the Tree Was Cut Down
- What Happened Next: The Investigation
What Happened After: Hope for the Future
Pictures of the Sycamore Gap Tree
See also

Where the Sycamore Gap Tree Stood

The Sycamore Gap tree grew to be about 49 feet (15 meters) tall. It stood right next to Hadrian's Wall, between Milecastle 39 and Crag Lough. This spot is about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Housesteads Roman Fort in northern England.

This part of Hadrian's Wall follows the edge of a tall cliff, which is made of a type of rock called the Whin Sill. There are also several deep dips in the land here. These dips were made by melting ice from ancient glaciers. The tree stood within one of these dips, with the cliff and wall rising dramatically on either side. The National Trust owns the wall and the land around it, including where the tree stood.

In the mid-1980s, an archaeological dig happened in this area. During the dig, old pottery from around 175 AD was found. The tree was a very popular spot and was described as one of the most photographed trees in the country. It was also likely the most photographed place in all of Northumberland National Park. You could see it from the nearby B6318 Military Road. The name "Sycamore Gap" was created by a National Trust employee named Lawrence Hewer. This happened when mapmakers were updating their maps and asked if this previously unnamed spot had a name.

A Look Back: The Tree's Story

The Sycamore Gap tree was a sycamore, a type of tree that isn't originally from this area. The National Trust believes it was planted in the late 1800s. It was planted by the land owner at the time, a lawyer from Newcastle upon Tyne named John Clayton. He planted it to make the area look beautiful. This means the tree was about 150 years old.

Some old drawings from the 1830s show a tree in this spot. Maps from the 1860s also show a fence around the tree. John Clayton came from a rich family and owned a Roman fort called Chesters. He loved exploring Hadrian's Wall. For nearly 50 years, he dug there every year. He helped people understand how the wall was built. He was worried that parts of the wall were being taken to build other things. So, he bought many parts of Hadrian's Wall, about 20 miles (32 km) of it, to protect them.

The tree became famous after it appeared in a key scene in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner. Because of this, it became known as the "Robin Hood tree." This is even though it was actually about 170 miles (274 km) away from Sherwood Forest, where Robin Hood is said to have lived. The tree also appeared in the music video for Bryan Adams' song "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You", which was from the movie's soundtrack. This video was often shown on British TV. The tree also appeared in the TV crime show Vera and in the documentary series More Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green. The spot was also popular for people who enjoy taking pictures of stars and looking at the night sky.

The tree was lucky not to be damaged in May 2003. A helicopter filming a nature show crashed about 30 meters (98 feet) away, just missing the presenter. Everyone on board had only minor injuries.

In 2016, the tree was nominated for England's Tree of the Year competition. It was chosen from 200 trees to be in the final top 10. It won the competition with many votes. The prize was money used to check the tree's health and protect its roots. The roots were getting exposed because so many people walked over them. The Sycamore Gap Tree then entered the 2017 European Tree of the Year contest. It came in 5th place out of 16 trees.

The Day the Tree Was Cut Down

The tree two days after it was cut down

The tree was cut down early in the morning on September 28, 2023. People nearby didn't hear it being cut down because of strong winds from Storm Agnes. The Northumberland National Park Authority believed it was done on purpose. Police called the cutting down of the tree a "deliberate act of damage." It looked like the tree was cut down with a chainsaw right at its base. There was a white line spray-painted on it just below the cut. The way it was cut and the sharpness of the saw made police and park rangers think whoever did it was very skilled.

What Happened Next: The Investigation

Police investigated and arrested several people. Later, two men, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, were officially accused of causing damage to both the tree and Hadrian's Wall.

The two men appeared in court in May and June 2024 and said they were not guilty. Their trial began on April 28, 2025. The men were accused of causing a lot of damage to the tree and to Hadrian's Wall. During the trial, a video was shown that seemed to show one of the men cutting down the tree with a chainsaw. The two men were also accused of keeping a piece of the tree's trunk as a souvenir. Prosecutors said the two men had driven to the tree overnight during Storm Agnes. The court heard that the men sometimes worked together and knew how to cut down large trees. On May 9, 2025, both men were found guilty. They received prison sentences on July 15, 2025.

What Happened After: Hope for the Future

Many people felt very sad and upset when the tree was destroyed. For many years, people had visited the tree for special moments, like asking someone to marry them or celebrating weddings. A leader from the National Trust, which cares for the land, said that the strong feelings people showed proved how much they care about nature. They hoped the sycamore tree could become a symbol of recovery for nature everywhere.

Soon after the tree was cut, a National Trust manager said the stump looked healthy. They hoped the tree might grow back, but knew it would take many years to become a small tree again. It would take around 150 to 200 years to reach its former size. Seeds were also collected from the tree to grow new young trees.

Experts from Historic England checked Hadrian's Wall and found some damage. The cut tree was carefully moved by crane to a safe place owned by the National Trust.

In March 2024, news reports shared that new tiny trees, called seedlings, had started growing from parts of the original tree. The first seedling was given to King Charles III, who said it would be planted in Windsor Great Park when it grew bigger. More seeds are being grown into young trees by the National Trust. These will be given to the school nearest the site and the UK's National Parks, as well as other good causes. By August 2024, new shoots were also seen growing from the base of the original stump.

An art show was planned using a piece of the tree's trunk. The first part of this show happened in 2024 at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre.

The tree also appears in a movie called 28 Years Later, which came out in 2025. The director, Danny Boyle, said he hoped it would be a great way to remember the famous tree.