Latest news with #Northumbrian
Daily Record
12-05-2025
- Daily Record
One of UK's 'prettiest' villages has population smaller than most streets
It's easy to see why when you look at the pictures A picturesque village, home to fewer than 130 residents, has been hailed as one of the UK's 'prettiest' by globe-trotting travel enthusiasts. The village didn't just make it onto a list of the best in the area, but was also declared one of the most beautiful in the country. The village that caught the attention of Jonny and Hannah, the founders of the popular travel blog Finding our launching their website in 2017, Jonny and Hannah have travelled the world, recommending places of interest. But they were particularly impressed with Blanchland, which made it onto their 'most beautiful in Northumberland' list. They wrote: "Blanchland is arguably one of the prettiest villages in north England. "The quaint village houses, Abbey, shops, tea room and pub are surrounded by scenic Northumbrian countryside." Nestled by the River Derwent and within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Blanchland straddles the border of Northumberland and County Durham, even boasting a DH postcode. Interestingly, according to the 2021 census, the village only has 124 confirmed residents, reports Chronicle Live. Often hailed as 'picture perfect', Blanchland's architecture and breathtaking landscape could easily grace a postcard. The historic and eye-catching Lord Crewe Arms, known for its top-rated cuisine, is often considered the village's crowning glory and is popular among staycationers looking for a relaxing UK break. However, the village also hosts the White Monk Refectory and Tea Room, which has garnered high praise for its unique location in an old school and its exceptional food. The Visit Northumberland website describes the village as being located "beneath a woodland cloak in a fairytale setting amongst the fells". It adds: "Built from the stones of Blanchland Abbey in 1165, it seemingly hasn't changed since, and murmurings of its fascinating history echo in the moors." Visit Northumberland adds: "Step back in time in Blanchland, the postcard-perfect, honey-stone village with the rightful reputation as one of the prettiest villages in the north of England. "Stones, cobbles, hanging baskets and winding lanes are everywhere in Blanchland, and there isn't a modern-day chainstore in sight. "!The village owes its name to the French canons who lived and worked in Blanchland Abbey and were distinguished by their white habits. 'Blanche' is French for white, and so the name 'Blanchland' was born. "A local shop with an unusual, white-washed postbox, The White Monk Tea Room, which used to be the village school, Blanchland Abbey and the magnificent Lord Crewe Arms Hotel which was originally built as the Abbot's Lodge are all that you'll find in this small village in Northumberland." The atmospheric Lord Crewe Arms Hotel is recognised as one of the oldest hostelries in the country, dating back to the 12th century. It was here that the Jacobite Rebellion leader, General Tom Foster, hid behind the inn's great fireplace in 1715.
National Geographic
09-05-2025
- National Geographic
The destruction of this U.K. tree prompted outrage—and now, a guilty verdict
A lone tree growing along an ancient Roman wall was a beloved fixture in the landscape. Why did the Sycamore Gap tree's illegal felling spark so much emotion? The Sycamore Gap tree grew in the dip of an ancient Roman wall. In the early hours of September 28, 2023, an act of violence and vandalism shocked the U.K. The next day, news of the attack dominated social media and mainstream news coverage, leading to outpourings of grief, fury at its senselessness, and pilgrimages to the remote stretch of countryside where the crime took place. This wasn't a human tragedy. In the dark of night, a solitary sycamore tree was cut down at an iconic stretch of an ancient ruin known as Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland in north east England. The wall is nearly 2,000 years old and had once marked the edge of the Roman Empire. The sycamore tree that grew where the ancient wall dipped between two hills was aptly named the Sycamore Gap tree. Two men stood trial for the crime, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers and were recently found guilty on two counts of criminal damage. They were accused of illegally cutting down the tree with a chainsaw, video of which was filmed it on Graham's phone, say prosecutors. Both men have denied any wrongdoing. A year and a half later, when the case against them was brought to trial, public outrage was still so acute that the judge warned the jurors to set emotion aside. It had been, as prosecutors later argued, a 'moronic mission' for no other reason than to cause distress. The British public wasn't willing to forgive. So why did the loss of a single tree matter so much? Walking the wall The answer seems to initially lie with the wall next to it; the charges against Graham and Carruthers weren't just about the tree, but the damage they're accused of causing to a major tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage site. 'Hadrian's Wall locates us in the world,' explains historian Josh Provan. 'People in London won't know the names of Northumbrian towns, but they'll know Hadrian's Wall. It's not just a lovely part of the world, it's historically significant for the study of Britain, of empires, of ancient history.' The Sycamore Gap tree was a relative newcomer. It was planted around 150 years ago, in a small gully where the Roman wall follows the groove of the Pennine hills, otherwise surrounded by stark, barren heathland. It was known to millions worldwide, not only as a landmark for hikers walking the length of the wall, but also as where Kevin Costner fought Guy of Gisbourne in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The tree's comparative youth didn't make it less beloved. 'Trees live on a different timescale to us,' says Wyl Menmuir, the author of The Heart of the Woods, which examines our relationship with nature. 'There are stories about oak trees where Charles II hid, or there's the Ankerwycke Yew, under which Henry VIII is said to have courted Anne Boleyn and Magna Carta was signed. The history doesn't bear scrutiny, there's no evidence it happened. But we've attached a story to those trees. We can feel the connection to that important moment.' The tree belonged to the wall; it didn't matter if it was there when Romans legions stood vigil almost 2,000 years ago. Historical resonance alone can only partially explain the emotional connection between a tree and those who admire it. Last April, British restaurant chain Toby Carvery was forced to apologise after cutting down a 500-year-old oak tree in the London borough of Enfield. The owners had acted on the advice of tree surgeons, who warned the split and dead wood were dangerous. No criminal activity had taken place. Even so, within hours campaigners were planning a boycott of the restaurant, and the local council was threatening civil action. Far less celebrated trees are just as protected; in England and Wales, councils can instate Tree Preservation Orders, barring woodland from destruction, and a tree's cultural heritage is only one of the criteria considered. Trees stir something deeper inside us. Their import extends to all countries and religions, from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden; to the Bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment; and Yggdrasill, the ash tree that supports the world in Norse mythology. 'Trees have always been important across cultures,' says Provan. 'If this had happened in Japan, this would have been immensely important; in Shinto, it would have destroyed the home of a God. In the West, we bring in Christmas trees to celebrate the end of the year. Trees are highly significant figures in any landscape.' Memories of bark and branch Landscape itself may be the final part of the equation; we recognise trees for their beauty, as an intrinsic part of our world. 'Architects and designers, all the way back to [landscaper] Capability Brown in the 18th century, knew the power of creating spaces with trees,' says Provan. 'In cities, we think we must contrive nature because we think we're separated from it. But you don't have to look very far to see that isn't the case.' Provan believes walking through a felled forest is the closest thing to a warzone. Something about cutting down a tree reminds us that humans bring destruction. We feel like trespassers. We have taken and not given back. When a lone tree is similarly destroyed, the sense of tragedy can be even more profound. 'We sometimes don't see the trees for the woods,' Menmuir says. 'During the construction of [a high speed rail line in southern England], some phenomenally old trees were felled, which were probably more important in terms of biodiversity, but where they were meant we didn't see them. The Sycamore Gap tree was special because it was in a treeless landscape.' Its solitude, not its history or heritage, Menmuir notes, created a stark contrast in the landscape that made the Sycamore Gap tree iconic. 'Over time, people have attached memories to that tree,' Menmuir says. 'There have been wedding vows beneath it, family picnics, blazing rows. The tree became a holder of those memories. When it was felled, it was like an attack on the memories of those people.' The legacy continues The case against Graham and Carruthers will grant some closure. On May 9, after a two-week trial, the duo were each convicted of criminal damage to both the tree and the wall. The jury's verdict was unanimous, and the evidence overwhelming: it included their own footage, a chunk of the tree they had kept as a memento, and incriminating social media posts. Yet trees can be reborn, and the act could lead to a greater legacy than the tree could have managed alone. Shortly after its destruction, the Sycamore Gap tree began to grow saplings around its stump. They have since been taken by the conservation nonprofit The National Trust, and 49 of them— one for each foot the tree stood before it was felled— will be given to community spaces around the U.K., from national parks to schools and community gardens. They are being called Trees of Hope. The same human spirit can be seen at the crime scene. ''I went back there last year,' Menmuir says. 'I walked up to the Sycamore Gap and just listened to other visitors. People had come there to talk about the tree and share the memories they had. There were a group of cyclists who were riding the length of Hadrian's Wall. They had stopped, and one of them had his camera out and was taking photographs. His friend asked him why; there was nothing to see in the picture. And the cyclist just said 'I don't know. But I feel like I need to.''
Hamilton Spectator
29-04-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
UK trial told Sycamore Gap tree felling was a ‘deliberate and mindless' act
LONDON (AP) — A prosecutor said Tuesday that two men embarked on a 'moronic mission' to cut down the famous Sycamore Gap tree in northern England in an 'act of deliberate and mindless criminal damage.' The tree, revered for its symmetrical perch between two hills along ancient Hadrian's Wall, was cut down in the early hours of Sept. 28, 2023, damaging the stone wall as it crashed to the ground. Although the sound was heard by few, the discovery of the fallen tree reverberated across the U.K and caused a national uproar . 'Though the tree had grown for over 100 years, the act of irreparably damaging it was the work of a matter of minutes,' prosecutor Richard Wright told jurors in opening statements at Newcastle Crown Court. Wright outlined the evidence against Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, who have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of criminal damage. Prosecutors said the value of the tree exceeded 620,000 pounds ($831,000) and damage to the wall was assessed at 1,100 pounds. Wright said one of the men used a chainsaw to expertly fell the tree in Northumberland National Park, while the other filmed the act using a phone. As they returned to their homes afterwards in Graham's Range Rover, Carruthers received a video of his young child from his partner and replied, 'I've got a better video than that,' Wright said. 'At the time of that text conversation, the only people in the world who knew the tree had been felled were the men who had had cut it down,' Wright said. 'And the only people in the world who had access to the video were the men who had filmed themselves in the act of cutting down the tree: the defendants Graham and Carruthers.' The tree was far from Britain's biggest or oldest. But the way its graceful canopy filled the saddle in the hills along a stretch of the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire had attracted generations of followers. The wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree became famous after being featured in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves,' and was a big draw for tourists, landscape photographers and people taking selfies. A criminal prosecution for cutting down a tree is rare and a prison sentence could be unprecedented if there's a conviction, said Sarah Dodd, an attorney who specializes in tree law. The maximum penalty for criminal damage is 10 years in jail. 'I don't think anybody has got a custodial sentence for the illegal felling of a tree yet in the U.K.,' said Dodd. 'That's on the table because of the gravity of the situation. And when I say gravity, I think value and also the shock of the nation.' 'A source of great pride' Before the tree was cut down, about 80% of the inquiries at the main visitors' center of the Northumberland National Park were from people planning to walk to the tree, the park's chief executive, Tony Gates, said. 'The tree is part of our Northumbrian identity. It's something that everybody grows up knowing about,' said Catherine Cape, who owns a guest cabin nearby. 'For the people in the villages around the tree, who live near the tree, it was a source of great pride.' The felled sycamore was removed with a crane and taken to a National Trust property for storage. A section of the trunk went on display at the park visitor center last year and seeds from the tree that were used to grow saplings are being donated for planting around the U.K. The tree is now fenced off, but there are signs of a possible recovery. Dozens of shoots have sprouted from the stump.
San Francisco Chronicle
29-04-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
UK trial told Sycamore Gap tree felling was a 'deliberate and mindless' act
LONDON (AP) — A prosecutor said Tuesday that two men embarked on a 'moronic mission' to cut down the famous Sycamore Gap tree in northern England in an 'act of deliberate and mindless criminal damage.' The tree, revered for its symmetrical perch between two hills along ancient Hadrian's Wall, was cut down in the early hours of Sept. 28, 2023, damaging the stone wall as it crashed to the ground. Although the sound was heard by few, the discovery of the fallen tree reverberated across the U.K and caused a national uproar. 'Though the tree had grown for over 100 years, the act of irreparably damaging it was the work of a matter of minutes,' prosecutor Richard Wright told jurors in opening statements at Newcastle Crown Court. Wright outlined the evidence against Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, who have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of criminal damage. Prosecutors said the value of the tree exceeded 620,000 pounds ($831,000) and damage to the wall was assessed at 1,100 pounds. Wright said one of the men used a chainsaw to expertly fell the tree in Northumberland National Park, while the other filmed the act using a phone. As they returned to their homes afterwards in Graham's Range Rover, Carruthers received a video of his young child from his partner and replied, 'I've got a better video than that,' Wright said. 'At the time of that text conversation, the only people in the world who knew the tree had been felled were the men who had had cut it down,' Wright said. 'And the only people in the world who had access to the video were the men who had filmed themselves in the act of cutting down the tree: the defendants Graham and Carruthers.' The tree was far from Britain's biggest or oldest. But the way its graceful canopy filled the saddle in the hills along a stretch of the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire had attracted generations of followers. The wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree became famous after being featured in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves,' and was a big draw for tourists, landscape photographers and people taking selfies. A criminal prosecution for cutting down a tree is rare and a prison sentence could be unprecedented if there's a conviction, said Sarah Dodd, an attorney who specializes in tree law. The maximum penalty for criminal damage is 10 years in jail. 'I don't think anybody has got a custodial sentence for the illegal felling of a tree yet in the U.K.,' said Dodd. 'That's on the table because of the gravity of the situation. And when I say gravity, I think value and also the shock of the nation.' 'A source of great pride' Before the tree was cut down, about 80% of the inquiries at the main visitors' center of the Northumberland National Park were from people planning to walk to the tree, the park's chief executive, Tony Gates, said. "The tree is part of our Northumbrian identity. It's something that everybody grows up knowing about,' said Catherine Cape, who owns a guest cabin nearby. 'For the people in the villages around the tree, who live near the tree, it was a source of great pride.' The felled sycamore was removed with a crane and taken to a National Trust property for storage. A section of the trunk went on display at the park visitor center last year and seeds from the tree that were used to grow saplings are being donated for planting around the U.K.
The Independent
29-04-2025
- The Independent
UK trial told Sycamore Gap tree felling was a 'deliberate and mindless' act
A prosecutor said Tuesday that two men embarked on a 'moronic mission' to cut down the famous Sycamore Gap tree in northern England in an 'act of deliberate and mindless criminal damage.' The tree, revered for its symmetrical perch between two hills along ancient Hadrian's Wall, was cut down in the early hours of Sept. 28, 2023, damaging the stone wall as it crashed to the ground. Although the sound was heard by few, the discovery of the fallen tree reverberated across the U.K and caused a national uproar. 'Though the tree had grown for over 100 years, the act of irreparably damaging it was the work of a matter of minutes,' prosecutor Richard Wright told jurors in opening statements at Newcastle Crown Court. Wright outlined the evidence against Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, who have pleaded not guilty to two counts each of criminal damage. Prosecutors said the value of the tree exceeded 620,000 pounds ($831,000) and damage to the wall was assessed at 1,100 pounds. Wright said one of the men used a chainsaw to expertly fell the tree in Northumberland National Park, while the other filmed the act using a phone. As they returned to their homes afterwards in Graham's Range Rover, Carruthers received a video of his young child from his partner and replied, 'I've got a better video than that,' Wright said. 'At the time of that text conversation, the only people in the world who knew the tree had been felled were the men who had had cut it down,' Wright said. 'And the only people in the world who had access to the video were the men who had filmed themselves in the act of cutting down the tree: the defendants Graham and Carruthers.' The tree was far from Britain's biggest or oldest. But the way its graceful canopy filled the saddle in the hills along a stretch of the ancient wall built by Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 122 to protect the northwest frontier of the Roman Empire had attracted generations of followers. The wall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tree became famous after being featured in Kevin Costner's 1991 film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves,' and was a big draw for tourists, landscape photographers and people taking selfies. A criminal prosecution for cutting down a tree is rare and a prison sentence could be unprecedented if there's a conviction, said Sarah Dodd, an attorney who specializes in tree law. The maximum penalty for criminal damage is 10 years in jail. 'I don't think anybody has got a custodial sentence for the illegal felling of a tree yet in the U.K.,' said Dodd. 'That's on the table because of the gravity of the situation. And when I say gravity, I think value and also the shock of the nation.' 'A source of great pride' Before the tree was cut down, about 80% of the inquiries at the main visitors' center of the Northumberland National Park were from people planning to walk to the tree, the park's chief executive, Tony Gates, said. "The tree is part of our Northumbrian identity. It's something that everybody grows up knowing about,' said Catherine Cape, who owns a guest cabin nearby. 'For the people in the villages around the tree, who live near the tree, it was a source of great pride.' The felled sycamore was removed with a crane and taken to a National Trust property for storage. A section of the trunk went on display at the park visitor center last year and seeds from the tree that were used to grow saplings are being donated for planting around the U.K. The tree is now fenced off, but there are signs of a possible recovery. Dozens of shoots have sprouted from the stump.
