Remarkable history of felled Sycamore Gap tree from film icon to bitter feud
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were convicted this week after being found guilty of cutting down Northumberland's famous Sycamore Gap tree. But what is it about this felled tree that made it so special to so many?
The Sycamore Gap tree, which once stood proudly in a dip next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, was chopped down in a shocking act of vandalism, causing uproar among locals. But what do we know about its remarkable history?
The beloved Sycamore tree was the scene of marriage proposals, sentimental moments, and the scattering of ashes, and held deep personal significance to many of those in the area. When it was illegally felled in the early morning of September 28, 2023, Brits up and down the country expressed dismay and outrage.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were convicted of two counts of criminal damage earlier this week after cutting down the famous Sycamore Tree.
Here, the Mirror takes a look at the rich 150-year history of this special tree, which has been immortalised in film, photographs, and countless memories.
The famous tree had been growing in a natural dip along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland for approximately 150 years before it was savagely cut down by the men who could now face up to 10 years in prison.Close to the village of Once Brewed, the Northumberland National Park Authority stated that the site was its "most-photographed spot"
In late 2016, it was even crowned English Tree of the Year in the Woodland Trust's awards. It has also made its way into literature, with author LJ Ross, whose second novel was named after the tree, having previously spoken about how many creatives "felt inspired" by it.
It was also a focal point along the 84-mile (135km) Hadrian's Wall route between Wallsend in North Tyneside and Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria and has been described as a 'symbol of the North East'.
The tree became famous after appearing in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner. Afterwards, it gained the nickname the Robin Hood Tree, although in reality, it was some 170 miles (273 km) from Sherwood Forest.The National Trust, which looks after the site with the Northumberland National Park Authority, said it was planted in the late 1800s by previous landowner John Clayton to be a "feature in the landscape".
Sadly, the tree is no more, with jurors at Newcastle Crown Court hearing how Graham and Carruthers thad filmed themselves on their 'moronic mission' before bragging about their crime in text messages. Carruthers was said to have been motivated by a desire to get a trophy from the tree as a 'souvenir' for his newborn daughter.
Meanwhile, a decision made shortly before his trial saw Cumberland council decree eviction from the land Graham used to call home, and he is embroiled in a bitter feud with his family.
It's claimed that Graham held a grudge against authorities who rejected his bid to live near Hadrian's Wall. In 2022, he applied for a 'Lawful Development Certificate'. The ground worker took up residence in a caravan next to his stables at Millbeck Stables on the edge of Carlisle, Cumbria, within Hadrian's Wall's UNESCO World Heritage site 'buffer zone'.
In the aftermath of the felling, people were keen to share their memories of the tree and why it was so special to them. One social media user tweeted: "The saddest part of Sycamore Gap being felled is that positive human interactions that have existed with it for years have gone to memory. Marriage proposals, generations of families walking along Hadrian's Wall as tradition to see it, ashes scattered, star gazing etc."
Another commented: "I am grieving all over again. I scattered my brother's ashes here. This was our place. This was a place in which I found calm and solace, my grounding and orientation. This place means everything to me. This is more than upsetting right now."
Hairy Biker Si King, who grew up in County Durham, posted on social media that a "sentinel of time and elemental spirit of Northumberland" had been "murdered".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Magaluf looks empty as Brits ‘shun hols hotspot because they are tired of being demonised' while resort cleans up image
MAGALUF is looking unusually bare as Brits shunned the popular holiday spot after feeling "tired of being demonised". Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty as the usual UK party-animals were nowhere to be seen - opting to spend their time in Benidorm instead. 9 9 9 Figures published last week showed Benidorm's leading visitors were Brits and its average hotel occupancy rate had reached almost 85 per cent in May. Meanwhile, pictures of the Spanish resort showed deserted beaches and empty restaurants - a steep contrast to what was once described as a "lawless party" hub. Deck chairs that would previously have been filled with boozing Brits sat empty, whilst Magaluf's once crowd-stricken streets appeared decidedly desolate. The barren resort is a positive change for many locals, who despaired at the "touristification" of their town. They're welcoming instead a new wave of tourists hailing from different European countries, which they hope will clean up the resort's image. Nightclub boss, Migue Perez-Masra, told local press that Playa de Palma, near the Majorcan capital, has seen a sharp increase in German tourists. 9 9 9 He claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf after feeling 'demonized" by locals. The area is now seeing more and more French and Italian visitors too. Attempts to clean up the resort's image come as Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort after a shocking sex video emerged in June 2014 showing a British tourist performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar. The 18-year-old at the centre of the viral footage was reportedly duped into performing the sex acts for what she thought was a free break that turned out to be a cocktail named 'Holiday'. At the time, Spanish politician Jose Ramon Bauza, branded Punta Ballena - Magaluf's strip - as '500 metres of shame'. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage The bar was ordered to close for a year whilst authorities cracked the whip on unruly behaviour. Fines of up to £50,000 were introduced for holidaymakers caught leaping off their hotel balconies, whilst limits were set on the amount of alcohol served at all-inclusive hotels. Further restrictions in Spanish party resorts were introduced last year. In parts of Majorca and Ibiza, tourists can be fined up to £1,300 for drinking on the streets and shops are now only allowed to sell alcohol at certain times. Britain's then-Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott urged holidaymakers in the Majorcan party resort to 'show responsibility' and remember they were "guests" in Spain. This Sunday anti-tourism protestors will stage another demonstration in the Majorcan capital Palma. The demo has been organised by activist organisation Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, with 60 groups already pledging to take part. Protestors from other cities including Barcelona and San Sebastian will also take to a streets as part of co-ordinated events. A Menys Turisme, Mes Vida spokesman said last week: 'We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island.' Anti-tourist sentiment is on the rise across the world - not just in Europe. In Indonesia, Bali has announced a raft of rules including a swearing ban - enforced by a police force dedicated to cracking down on troublemakers. The new guidelines advise that foreign tourists 'should observe and honour Balinese customs, traditions, and cultural practices, especially during ceremonies.' They note tourists should also 'dress appropriately when visiting temples, tourist attractions, or public spaces.' Bali has further imposed a tourist tax of 150,000 IDR (under £8). Thailand is similarly introducing a 300-baht (under £7) tourism tax, which will come into force as of May 1. In Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, tourists are restricted to marked trails and must visit protected areas with a certified guide to help preserve this natural treasure. Since August 2024, tourists at the Galapagos must pay an increased entry tax of $200 (£155). 9 9 9
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Magaluf looks empty as Brits ‘shun hols hotspot because they are tired of being demonised' while resort cleans up image
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MAGALUF is looking unusually bare as Brits shunned the popular holiday spot after feeling "tired of being demonised". Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty as the usual UK party-animals were nowhere to be seen - opting to spend their time in Benidorm instead. 9 Deck chairs lay empty in the Spanish resort Credit: Solarpix 9 Restaurants that were once filled with boozing Brits appeared bare Credit: Solarpix 9 Figures published last week showed Benidorm's leading visitors were Brits and its average hotel occupancy rate had reached almost 85 per cent in May. Meanwhile, pictures of the Spanish resort showed deserted beaches and empty restaurants - a steep contrast to what was once described as a "lawless party" hub. Deck chairs that would previously have been filled with boozing Brits sat empty, whilst Magaluf's once crowd-stricken streets appeared decidedly desolate. The barren resort is a positive change for many locals, who despaired at the "touristification" of their town. They're welcoming instead a new wave of tourists hailing from different European countries, which they hope will clean up the resort's image. Nightclub boss, Migue Perez-Masra, told local press that Playa de Palma, near the Majorcan capital, has seen a sharp increase in German tourists. 9 Once crowd-stricken streets now seemed visibly empty Credit: Solarpix 9 The barren resort is a positive change for many locals Credit: Solarpix 9 Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort Credit: Solarpix He claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf after feeling 'demonized" by locals. The area is now seeing more and more French and Italian visitors too. Attempts to clean up the resort's image come as Magaluf was branded a lawless party resort after a shocking sex video emerged in June 2014 showing a British tourist performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar. The 18-year-old at the centre of the viral footage was reportedly duped into performing the sex acts for what she thought was a free break that turned out to be a cocktail named 'Holiday'. At the time, Spanish politician Jose Ramon Bauza, branded Punta Ballena - Magaluf's strip - as '500 metres of shame'. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage The bar was ordered to close for a year whilst authorities cracked the whip on unruly behaviour. Fines of up to £50,000 were introduced for holidaymakers caught leaping off their hotel balconies, whilst limits were set on the amount of alcohol served at all-inclusive hotels. Further restrictions in Spanish party resorts were introduced last year. In parts of Majorca and Ibiza, tourists can be fined up to £1,300 for drinking on the streets and shops are now only allowed to sell alcohol at certain times. Britain's then-Ambassador to Spain Hugh Elliott urged holidaymakers in the Majorcan party resort to 'show responsibility' and remember they were "guests" in Spain. This Sunday anti-tourism protestors will stage another demonstration in the Majorcan capital Palma. The demo has been organised by activist organisation Menys Turisme, Mes Vida, with 60 groups already pledging to take part. Protestors from other cities including Barcelona and San Sebastian will also take to a streets as part of co-ordinated events. A Menys Turisme, Mes Vida spokesman said last week: 'We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island.' 9 Many locals lamented at the loss of their town to boozing Brits Credit: Solarpix 9 Residents said they're welcoming in a new stream of tourists from Europe Credit: Solarpix
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Tragic mum, 31, 'stabbed to death by pupil' pictured for first time
A 14-year-old French schoolboy is facing 20 eyars in prison after allegedly stabbing a teaching assistant to death after she asked to search his bag for weapons. A young teaching assistant who was stabbed to death by a teenage pupil in a horror knife attack at a school in France has been pictured for the first time. Known only as Melanie G, the single mum and former hairdresser, was looking for concealed weapons alongside a police officer - in line with national education policy - at the gates of Françoise Dolto secondary school in Nogent-sur-Marne, near Paris when the horror unfolded around 8.30am on Tuesday, reports the Mirror. She had only started the job last year, giving up her career in hairdressing to spend more time with her little boy. French police say the 14-year-old schoolboy was tonight facing 20 years in prison after allegedly stabbing the 31-year-old teaching assistant to death after she asked to search his bag for knives. The incident followed a spate of school knife attacks in France, including one in April, when a teenage girl was stabbed to death and three others were wounded at a school in Nantes, in the west of the country. A source investigating the Nogent attack said: "The boy responsible was uninjured, after stabbing his victim multiple times. He was soon restrained by staff, and then arrested by the police officer present at the bag check." The source added: "One of the arresting officers suffered a slight cut to the hand." Referring to the alleged killer, the source said: "He is now in custody, and facing up to 20 years in prison if found guilty in a youth court of a deliberate killing." Local prosecutor Denis Devallois confirmed that a criminal enquiry had been launched into the killing, and that the perpetrator faced prison. The boy who cannot be named for legal reasons had been arrested twive from the school for disruptive behaviour, and was a student representative in the school's anti-bullying programme, claimed the source. Following today's killing, French President Emmanuel Macron described a "senseless wave of violence" in France. He added: "We all stand with [Melanie G.'s] family, her loved ones, her colleagues and the entire educational community. The nation is in mourning and the government is mobilised to reduce crime." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Mélanie G. lived in Sarcey, around seven miles from Nogent, where she also worked as a municipal councillor. Paying tribute, her sister-in-law said: "She was funny, gentle, and very kind, and had one goal – to look after her child. She gave up hairdressing because she wanted more days off to be with him." Last month, France's Education Ministry announced that 958 bag checks in schools had resulted in the seizure of 94 knives across the country.
