Sycamore Gap tree to be cut up and moved by crane

Workers at the site on Wednesday used chainsaws to trim the trunk

The Sycamore Gap tree is to be cut up and moved by crane two weeks after it was chopped down.

Workers using chainsaws have begun to remove its branches before the trunk will be taken away on Thursday.

The National Trust said "every option" had been explored for moving the tree, which is about 150 years old and close to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland.

Experts are aiming to keep the trunk in "as large sections as possible" to give them "flexibility" on its future.

They decided it was too big to move in one piece. The public has also been reassured that the tree's stump has been protected.

• Sycamore Gap tree: The story so far

The 50ft tree (15m), which was made famous in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, will be taken to an unnamed National Trust property where it will be "safely stored".

The trunk of the tree will be be cut into large pieces due to its size

The charity said seeds had been collected by specialist propagators at its Plant Conservation Centre, which could be used for new saplings.

Part of Hadrian's Wall was also damaged when the tree came down, sometime between the evening of 27 September and morning of 28 September.

"It's currently in a precarious position resting on the wall, so it's necessary we move it now, both to preserve the world-famous monument that is Hadrian's Wall, and to make the site safe again for visitors," said Andrew Poad, general manager of the site.

"We've explored every option for moving the tree and while it isn't possible to lift it in one go, as the tree is multi-stemmed with a large crown, we have aimed to keep the trunk in as large sections as possible, to give us flexibility on what the tree becomes in future.

"We're encouraging people to stay away from the site while these complex and difficult operations take place."

The tree, which was seen as a symbol of Northumberland and a popular site for photographers and walkers due to its location inside a dramatic dip in the land, was planted by a previous landowner in the late 1800s.

The stump of the tree has been protected, the National Trust said

A Northumbria Police investigation continues and a 16-year-old boy and a man aged in his 60s arrested on suspicion of criminal damage remain on bail.

The National Trust has received thousands of tributes, messages and suggestions for the site and the felled tree.

"It's clear that this tree captured the imaginations of so many people who visited, and that it held a special - and often poignant - place in many people's hearts," Mr Poad said.

It hopes to involve the public over the coming weeks "to find the best way" of paying tribute to it.

"The nature of the site, which is designated by Unesco and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, means our plans must be carefully thought through. We kindly ask people to please bear with us while we consider what might be possible," Mr Poad added.

A temporary fence has been installed to protect the tree's stump, which the charity said may "begin to sprout new shoots in time".

Workers loaded branches into a waiting trailer

Tony Gates, chief executive officer at the Northumberland National Park Authority, said there had been "some challenging scenarios" for the National Trust to consider due to the historic environment and the safety of the site.

"The intention is to ensure that the tree is stored safely so that full consideration can be given to how best to use the tree in future," he said.

"We would like to thank everyone for their patience, and we will continue to work with the National Trust to ensure that in time, Sycamore Gap's legacy lives on through a thriving landscape."

The tree was popular with photographers