'A photographer's dream' - your memories and pictures of Sycamore Gap tree

Summary

The deliberate felling of one of the UK's most famous trees has triggered an emotional response for thousands
The lone tree at Northumberland's Sycamore Gap was a symbol of the area and has been seen in numerous films - including Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
One of the most photographed in the country, it stands in a dramatic dip in Hadrian's Wall
We've been hearing your stories about the tree - from proposals under its branches to the scattering of ashes around the landmark
As angry as many are about what has happened, there is hope that new shoots could grow from the tree's stump
A 16-year-old was arrested by police and has since been released on bail

Live Reporting

Edited by Jamie Whitehead

Saying goodbye to 'the most famous tree in Hollywood'published at 16:06 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Jamie Whitehead
Live reporter
Image source, Stuart Tye
Earlier this week, what was possibly the UK’s most famous tree was cut down. We've spent today reading so many of your stories about time spent at the landmark in the Sycamore Gap. This page will now serve as a repository for those memories.
The tree was named "the most famous tree in Hollywood" when it was nominated for European Tree of the Year in 2017, due to its appearance in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
And while the deliberate felling of this beautiful tree has upset people across the UK, there has been the glimmer of hope that its shoots may be able to grow back. But replacing anything like what was lost will take time - between 150 and 200 years to get near to the size that it was.
Thank you for joining us today. This page was brought to you by Anna Boyd, Jo Couzens, Samantha Jagger, Francesca Williams, Emma Owen, Sherie Ryder and me.
Scroll down to read more memories and see lots of beautiful photos. And you can read more in our latest news story here.
One of the last photos to be taken of the treepublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Imogen Potter and her family were amongst the last people to see the tree when they walked to it on Wednesday.
Image source, Imogen Potter
Quote Message
“Our family from Herefordshire have just been on holiday in Cumbria. For our Mum’s 60th birthday on the 27th, we all hiked to Sycamore Gap as a special occasion . We all woke up yesterday morning shocked and saddened by the news and felt strange that we are likely the last few people to see this natural beauty. If we had gone on the walk on the last day of our trip it would have been very different. We are all very shocked and seeing the news is quite surreal.”
Imogen Potter in Herefordshire
Image source, Imogen Potter
Image caption,
The family had been celebrating a 60th birthday this week
'Such a special place'published at 15:50 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Katharine Barton
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It was our first visit to north-east England, we took a trip to Hadrian’s Wall with our son and dog. Of course, like millions, we were familiar with this tree having been made so famous by Kevin Costner! Standing alone in such a special place, steeped in history amongst the stones of Hadrian’s Wall made it particularly special.”
Katharine Barton
'A very, very sad day'published at 15:42 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Rachel O'Connell
Image caption,
Diane's friends and family visited the tree in July
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My son's partner Rachel is from Guyana, now an Australian citizen, and this was her first visit to the UK, along with my grandson. It was such a special time - all my four sons together with partners, together for the first time in six years. One son from Perth, Australia. One son and grandson from Brisbane. One son from Sheffield. One son from London. We had flown in from Kuwait where we work. An unforgettable day, such happy memories. My husband and his family are from Newcastle and we have visited this tree often with his family. We are all absolutely devastated by this act of vandalism. A very, very sad day.”
Diane Davis in Kuwait
Image source, Rachel O'Connell
Image caption,
Diane's family had flown in for a family reunion in July
'My husband and I were there for our Alphabet Date'published at 15:37 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
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I've tried not to look at the pictures of the beautiful tree, so, so upsetting. I live near a beach but my feelgood thing is trees and nature."
Susan
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It’s a dreadful act of ignorant vandalism but we should make something positive of it. Sycamore Gap should become a spot for displaying a rotation of art by Northumbrian artists, rather like the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Rather than selling the wood off as tourist ‘tat’ it could be used to make the first art work."
Keith
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When I heard the news about Sycamore Gap, I was devastated. The iconic tree was a friend to so many, an old friend. My husband and I were there last year for our Alphabet Date - H: Hiking along historic Hadrian’s Wall, halting at Sycamore Gap. It was a place to picnic, a place to photograph, a place just to be."
Rachel
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I was surprised at how much this has affected me. I know it was just a tree but it represented so much more at the end of the day. It's all made worse when you think about what possible reason someone could have for doing it."
Philip
'Hearing the news about it was really shocking'published at 15:28 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Martin Lenord
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“I went to Sycamore Gap with my boss from work, we both do a bit of amateur photography. I set up a timer and ran along the wall with my head torch to create a light trail for that long exposure shot. Hearing the news about it was really shocking. I couldn’t quite believe it. We’ve been there a lot. It’s always been a regular day out for us if it’s a nice day and a place we would also take visitors when they came.”
Martin Lenord, in Hexham
Forensics officer heard saying, 'I've never examined a tree'published at 15:17 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
A 16-year-old boy who was arrested yesterday in connection with the tree's felling has now been released on bail pending further inquires, Northumbria Police says.
The force said on Thursday it believed the damage had been a "deliberate act of vandalism".
It has appealed for anyone with information about what happened to get in touch.
Image source, PA Media
The PA news agency says there are still forensics officers at the site, taking measurements and samples from the stump and photographing the area.
One was heard saying: "In 31 years of forensics I've never examined a tree."
Sycamore sleight of handpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
The sycamore has been photographed thousands of times in all seasons and weathers. It was just one of those sights people would make a special journey to capture.
But Chloe Dixon's trick is the only option now, if you want to see it upright.
She says she took the polaroid a few years ago and held it up in front of the tree.
Image source, Chloe Dixon
'A symbol of something natural in its perfect form'published at 14:34 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Kris Hodgetts
Quote Message
These two photos were taken in 2019 on my last night visit to Sycamore Gap. When I saw the news yesterday morning I thought it was a photoshop hoax at first until I saw photos from another photographer on social media. We haven't just lost another tree but a symbol of something natural in its perfect form which can’t be replaced by a statue or a memorial.”
Kris Hodgetts
Image source, Kris Hodgetts
'Why would someone cut down a tree?'published at 14:23 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Stuart Tye
Quote Message
“I do photography as a hobby and one clear night in November 2021 I wanted to go out and take a picture of the tree. I was there for two hours. I’ve always loved the night sky. I’m devastated, angry and upset. I can't get my head round why it’s happened. Why would someone cut down a tree?”
Stuart Tye
Having faith in the tree's Plan Bpublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
All that remains of the tree at Sycamore Gap is a stump. But in that stump lies hope that many are clinging to.
The National Trust has said new shoots could grow from the trunk's base.
Tristan Gooley, the author of How To Read A Tree, explains trees have "what I would refer to as a Plan B" and can "sprout back" into life.
"I don't want to raise false hopes yet but, as a general principle, broadleaf trees can live again, even when they've been brutally decapitated," he said.
"The truth is the more mature a tree the less positive the outlook but trees are inspiring in the way that they will give life another go if they possibly can."
Image source, Ian Sproat
Robin Hood actor on 'senseless' felling of treepublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Alamy
Image caption,
Dan Newman as Wulf in the movie
An actor, who starred alongside Kevin Costner in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has spoken out on the destruction of the tree that featured in one of the film's key scenes.
Speaking on BBC Radio Tees, Dan Newman, who played young boy Wulf, called the vandalism "senseless".
He said the tree was beautiful and iconic and its appeal went far beyond its location, as was shown by the strength of feeling at its loss.
Remembering his time filming, he described Costner as "a good guy" and noted people "loved that movie".
Photographing the Northern Lights at Sycamore Gappublished at 13:35 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Jeff Overs
BBC News
I spent a very chilly night at Sycamore Gap seven years ago, standing alone at that spot under the amazing starlight for several hours.
Another younger photographer turned up and we chatted for several hours waiting for the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) to appear, but it was so dark that I never actually saw his face.
I was more than grateful to see a shallow green glimmer around midnight. But like fishermen, landscape photographers are never entirely satisfied, and so I was hoping for a better shot one day.
It’s equinox at this time of year which is a peak season for the Northern Lights and my “Aurora Watch“ app has pinged twice in the last two weeks, on both occasions too late for me to get there in time from London.
Wonderful pictures emerged from both nights and so I had been keeping an eye out.
The relatively recent appearance of apps has made it a lot easier to predict these natural wonders and Sycamore Gap was such an amazing place to witness them.
I felt sick and when I discovered what had happened to that magical location, and now bereft, a jewel in our crown is now lost for future generations.
Sycamore Gap 'still very much a crime scene'published at 13:14 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Alison Freeman
BBC Look North, reporting from Northumberland
Image source, PA Media
This is still very much a crime scene.
Forensics police officers have been here for an hour taking photographs and measurements of the stump of the tree and scraping samples of the bark.
The atmosphere remains incredibly solemn.
People are continuing to walk to the site to pay their respects, taking their time to stand or sit just looking at what remains.
There is still a sense of disbelief that this has really happened.
Image source, PA Media
The tree that hid in a gap but rose to Hollywood famepublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Warner Bros/Keyvin Reynolds
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves came out in 1991 and tells the story, as the title makes clear, of Robin Hood - the outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor.
The tree featured in a key scene near the beginning of the film, when Robin Hood – played by Kevin Costner - makes his way to Sherwood Forest to confront the sheriff's men.
Image source, Alamy
Dan Newman, who played the character Wulf - a little boy who hides in the tree and is rescued by Costner's character - talked about taking pictures of it when he arrived for filming.
"It was the first thing I did on the movie, actually, on my first day," said the actor turned personal trainer.
"It's a beautiful and iconic image."
Not just a tree, an award-winning treepublished at 12:52 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
As we mentioned earlier, the tree was voted England’s Tree of the Year in 2016, after getting 2,542 votes.
The following year it took part in the European Tree of the Year competition.
Sadly, despite being described by the organisers as "the most famous tree in Hollywood", it failed to take the top European spot - but did come in at a very respectable fifth place, external.
Poland's then 650-year-old Oak Józef came first, followed by the Brimmon Oak in Wales.
'A place where truly one could be set free'published at 12:35 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Harriet Robinson was moved to write a poem in tribute to the tree and its "wonderful location".
There once was a lonesome tree
Which stood for over 400 years witnessing a personal history
Far outliving a human life - yet providing comfort and shelter for many and me
A place where truly one could be set free
Looking up in awe at its majesty
Image source, Harriet Robinson
Image caption,
Harriet took this picture in June 2021
Pub hopes to celebrate the tree's legacypublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Samantha Jagger
BBC News, NE and Cumbria
For some, thoughts are turning to ways in which they can remember the famous tree. And the manager of a pub just a stone's throw away from the site is raising funds to do just that.
Image source, Dan Monk Kielder Observatory
Steve Blair, who manages the Twice Brewed Inn, said the spot was "such a big draw for tourism in the north of England".
"It's quite a popular place for people to propose and for wedding photographs.
"It's so symbolic, you see people sitting on the bankside viewing the tree for hours at a time," he added.
He says he wants to create a lasting memorial, and the money raised will support future projects in the area as well as work carried out by Northumberland National Park & National Trust.
'It resembled another soul'published at 12:15 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Image source, Lorraine Jones
Image caption,
Wintry shot of the Sycamore gap tree last year
Quote Message
“I took this photo on 17 December 2022, on a solo hike, which I had done a few times. It resembled another soul also standing. Such a beautiful, inspirational sight.”
Lorraine Jones
Image source, Lorraine Jones
In Pictures: 'It was great for photography'published at 11:59 British Summer Time 29 September 2023
Ken Fitzpatrick sent us these beautiful shots of the tree in different seasons.
"I used to go to this tree often. It was great for photography," he says.
Image source, @Clash16Ken
Image source, @Clash16Ken