logo
Part of felled Sycamore Gap tree to go on permanent display

Part of felled Sycamore Gap tree to go on permanent display

Independent10-07-2025
A piece of the illegally-felled Sycamore Gap tree is set to go on permanent display.
Two men were found guilty of chopping down the world-famous tree in September 2023, in an act that sparked global outrage.
Now people will be able to get up close to the tree once again as part of its trunk will be going on display at Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland - two miles away from where the tree stood.
The instillation created by artist Charlie Whinney includes a piece of the tree which is more than 6ft (2m) long and is surrounded steam-bent wood that twists around the original trunk and three benches.
A public consultation was held to decide what to do with the remains of the much-loved tree, which included a workshop with children and any written contributions people wanted to make.
On the three benches words taken from people's submissions have been inscribed.
"They wanted to be able to sit down, so we made some benches, and also pretty much 100 per cent of the people we spoke to said they want to be able to access the tree and touch it,' Mr Whinney told the BBC.
He said: 'I really hope what we've done in some small way allows the people of Northumberland and those who held this tree close to their hearts to process the loss they still feel from that day in September 2023, when the tree was illegally cut down. The work looks forward with hope, the tree is regrowing, and Sycamore Gap will always be a magical place to visit.'
The Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) received letters, emails and messages in visitor books with people talking about the tree.
Tony Gates Chief executive of the NNPA explained the past 18 months since the tree was felled has been difficult and that the opening of the instillation on Thursday will be a big moment.
"Back in September 2023, people felt they'd lost the tree forever and maybe in some ways felt they'd lost those memories of those life events," he told the BBC.
"To be sat here today to be part of that tree with this beautiful installation, it gives me a ray of hope for the future, this is a time to look forward and a time for us to repledge to do positive things for nature."
The tree was not Britain's biggest or oldest, but it was prized for its picturesque setting symmetrically planted between two hills along the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire, and had attracted generations of followers.
The tree had been known to locals but received international attention in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.' It drew tourists, lovers, landscape photographers and even those who spread the ashes of loved ones.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A66 Workington crash inquest: Pair died from chest injuries
A66 Workington crash inquest: Pair died from chest injuries

BBC News

time6 hours ago

  • BBC News

A66 Workington crash inquest: Pair died from chest injuries

A mum-of-three and a man who died in separate cars in the same crash suffered fatal chest injuries, an inquest has Storey, 35, from Workington, and Marty Roberts, 34, from Merseyside, died in a collision between two cars on the A66 near the Cumbrian town on Saturday 12 Coroners' Court heard Miss Storey, a sales assistant, and Mr Roberts, a railway maintenance worker, both died from chest into their deaths were separately opened and suspended, to resume once the police inquiry had been completed. Miss Storey and Mr Roberts were both the front-seat passengers of the cars involved in the collision at Twenty Row and both died at the drivers, who were both men in their 30s, were taken to hospital with serious Police confirmed no arrests had been made in relation to the crash and the investigation was Storey was born in Whitehaven and lived at Salterbeck, Workington, the court family said she was a "proud and adoring mother to her three beautiful children".Mr Roberts was from Bootle, Merseyside, and his family had said he "touched the hearts of everyone he met with his unique quirky sense of humour and his calm nature". Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.

The Gone cast: who is in series 2 and which actors are new?
The Gone cast: who is in series 2 and which actors are new?

Scotsman

time14 hours ago

  • Scotsman

The Gone cast: who is in series 2 and which actors are new?

The Gone series 2 will start on BBC Two this evening 📺 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Gone returns for a second season tonight (July 31). Theo Richter and DS Diana Huia are back. But who are the new faces in Mt Affinity this season? The Gone is back as viewers are invited to take another trip to Mt Affinity. BBC Two will once again be broadcasting the episodes as they make their UK debut. The thriller is a New Zealand-Irish drama. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But who is in the cast and what can you expect? Here's all you need to know: When is The Gone on TV? The Gone series 2 starts on July 31 | BBC The second season of the crime thriller will return to BBC Two this evening. The first episode is set to begin at 9pm today (July 31) with the second following tomorrow (August 1) at the same time. What to expect from The Gone tonight? The preview for the first episode of The Gone season two, via Radio Times , reads: 'When journalist Aileen Ryan goes missing, Irish detective Theo Richter and Kiwi detective Diana Huia are compelled to remain in the small town of Mt Affinity in New Zealand and lead the search. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'After discovering Aileen went missing while chasing a lead on the town's historical Mountain Murders, the detectives enter a game of cat and mouse with the Goatman.' Who is in the cast of The Gone? The show is back for its second series as viewers are transported back to the small New Zealand town of Mt Affinity. The cast includes: Richard Flood as Theo Richter Acushla-Tara Kupe as DS Diana Huia Carolyn Bracken as Aileen Ryan Vanessa Rare as Wiki Huia Scott Wills as Bruce Harris Wayne Hapi as Buster Huia Rachel Morgan as Sinead Martin Ella Gilbert as Valerie Armstrong Michelle Fairley as Judge Hannah Martin Simon Mead as Ronan Garvey Manu Bennett as Tamati Davidson Poroaki Merritt-McDonald as Ginge Which actors are new for season 2 of The Gone? For the return to Mt Affinity, The Gone has added a number of new faces. It includes: Daya Tumua-Sao-Mafiti as Oliver Jones Darren Young as Officer Jacobs Caleb Armstrong as Derry Jr. Géraldine Creff as French Tourist Renee Sheridan as Sharyn Anna-Maree Thomas as Officer Reid John Leigh as Vaughan Phil Brown as Ross Maley KC Michael Koloi as Corrections Officer Acacia O'Connor as German Tourist Where do you know The Gone cast from? Richard Flood plays the Irish detective Theo Richter in both seasons of the crime thriller. He played Dr. Cormac Hayes in Grey's Anatomy from 2019 to 2022. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He was also Ford in the American remake of Shameless - alongside the likes of Jeremy Allen White, William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum and Justin Chatwin. You may have also seen him in the Irish soap opera Red Rock. Michelle Fairley, who plays Judge Martin, famously played Caitlyn Stark in HBO's Game of Thrones. She has also had a lead role in the Sky show Gangs of London, appearing in all three seasons so far, and also had a part in Netflix's Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story.

'Endless battle' with crime gangs taking over the High Street
'Endless battle' with crime gangs taking over the High Street

BBC News

time17 hours ago

  • BBC News

'Endless battle' with crime gangs taking over the High Street

Along a one-mile stretch of road near the centre of Newport, 19 shops have been shut down in the past nine months for selling illegal tobacco and vapes."It's shameful that this is happening," says Steve Hay, one of the Trading Standards team responsible for the closures. He says the sale of illegal goods is a crime causing deep problems in the South Wales, the BBC was told of criminal gangs using forced labour, mini-marts staffed with illegal workers and cars filled with drugs and fake cigarettes. It is just a glimpse of what one Trading Standards officer describes as an "endless battle" against the illegal tobacco and vape trade in living and working near shops like these have told the BBC they are terrified by the criminality surrounding them, with reports of intimidation, open drug dealing and an acid cigarettes, tobacco and vape products were seized from 3,624 shops across England, Scotland and Wales in 2024-25, according to BBC Freedom of Information (FOI) were gathered from 169 local Trading Standards teams, out of an estimated total of 187. Many of the seizures came from convenience stores and vape shops, but illegal goods were also found in several other high street shops, including takeaways, beauty salons and even a carpet repair trade "undermines legitimate retailers, funds wider crime, and harms public health" according to HM Revenue and Customs, and deprived public services of nearly £72m in 2023-24. What's more, local authorities have limited powers to tackle the problem. In Newport, some of the closed shops still have the shutters down, but others appear to be back in business. Young men sit outside them, smoking and chatting in the it all with frustration is Erol Kaya, who runs his own legitimate international supermarket on the same road. A Turkish-born Kurd, he has lived in South Wales for 26 years and says he now witnesses the brazen sale of illegal goods every day."I'm not happy," he says, his voice rising with emotion. "I'm paying tax, my staff paying tax, and people [are] making illegal money." He adds that customers have told him they are now scared to visit the road, especially after some councils have the power to shut these establishments down, and even then, only usually for three months. Fewer than 300 shops were shut down in this way in the past year, according to our FOI requests. 'Elusive owners' Behind the bright crisp packets and fizzy drink bottles lining the shelves of an east London convenience store, there is not a lot of stock."I think this is our fourth visit," says Nazir Ali, from Barking and Dagenham Trading owners of this business, he says, are elusive, which makes it difficult to close the shop. "Every time we've been here, we've found concealments." Out back, it looks almost empty – until a sniffer dog finds stacks of illegal cigarettes and tobacco inside a makeshift wall. Ali estimates they are worth more than £5, says that is enough to temporarily close the shop. But under current legislation, he still has to prove antisocial or nuisance behaviour. Illegal goods were seized from 245 shops in the borough in 2024-25, the highest number in Britain of the councils that responded to BBC FOI figures show that, like many councils, Barking and Dagenham didn't report any shop closures between April 2024 and 2025. A spokesperson says the council continues to work with businesses where appropriate, considering the full range of enforcement tools available including closure orders. 'Stash cars' In Newport, by contrast, the Trading Standards team has temporarily shut down all but one of the 28 shops it seized from in closing shops does not necessarily make the problem go will either wait for a shop to re-open or simply move to a vacant site the illegal stock is stored in "stash cars" parked near the closed shop."It's not good enough, it's appalling and I'm desperately sad it's happening," Steve Hay tells us. "You can't stop crime as a whole, but it should not be so visible and accessible." On raids 40 miles away in Swansea, Trading Standards officers say the stash cars may contain drugs as well as counterfeit Harries, an officer there told us: "It's tobacco in the day, drugs in the night."He tells us trying to enforce the law can be perilous: "I've had officers that have been threatened. My car windows have been smashed in the past. It is a serious crime and we're dealing with serious criminals." There are also issues with immigration crime and illegal working. On a raid with Swansea Trading Standards, immigration officers arrested an asylum seeker - an Iraqi Kurd without right to work in the UK. They suspected he was in control of a tobacco stash car. 'I don't feel safe' The BBC spoke to three shop workers in South Wales, all too scared to be identified. One described seeing acid thrown during an argument between mini-market woman, who has worked in a shop for more than 30 years, says she sees drug dealing every morning."There's no control. It doesn't feel like home now," she man we spoke to - Daniel – says he is repeatedly seeing high street raids and criminality."It doesn't make me feel safe. I've got kids," he has dual UK-Chinese nationality and has lived in Swansea for much of his life. Now he says he is thinking about moving his family back to Hong Kong. Swansea has become a hub for counterfeit rolling tobacco, says Harries. He says the trade is controlled by Chinese gangs in the city who are making "phenomenal" amounts of cash this migrants, brought in on student visas, are forced to work illegally and stuff hundreds of pouches of tobacco every week, he says."The amount of money [the gangs] they can make selling tobacco is greater than if they were selling drugs," he counterfeit tobacco is supplied to predominantly Kurdish gangs, who then sell it under the counter in mini-marts, according to Harries. 'No good for the future' Nazir Ali says he would like to see clearer legislation and more resources to support Trading Standards in taking action against shops selling illegal local authorities have powers to apply to magistrates' courts for closure orders under antisocial these can only be issued if it can be proved that a premises is a serious nuisance to the public or disorderly, offensive or criminal behaviour is likely to the limited occasions when councils report shops closing permanently, this is generally through Trading Standards working with landlords who evicted rules introduced in 2023 mean those convicted now can face higher fines of up to £10,000 - but this may still be lower than the value of the counterfeit cigarettes being a statement to the BBC, the Home Office says that "over 500 town centres are getting extra neighbourhood patrols" and that these would have a major role in cracking down on the sale of illegal tobacco adds that "Border Force is working to ensure [these products] don't make it to our shelves in the first place, seizing over 97 tonnes of illegal tobacco last year."The chief executive of the anti-smoking charity Ash, Hazel Cheeseman, says that although the illicit tobacco market has declined over the last few decades, it remains a concern. She urges the government to pass legislation to toughen licensing rules for the sale of tobacco, and gradually phase it out the situation in Newport is making Erol question the safety of raising his family in South Wales."I'm a foreigner… but this country is my kids' country, my grandkids," he says."If this country is not strong, it's no good for the future."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store