A 16-year-old boy was arrested Thursday after a nearly 200-year-old tree that stood by Hadrian’s Wall in England was “deliberately felled,” local officials said, as police investigate whether the tree—which appeared in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves—was cut down in a “deliberate act of vandalism.”
The tree—which appeared in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves—was cut down in a “deliberate ... [+]
The Sycamore Gap tree—also referred to as the “Robin Hood” tree—had “come down” late Wednesday, according to the Northumberland National Park Authority, which said there was “reason to believe it has been deliberately felled.”
Northumbria Police announced Thursday it had launched an investigation into the incident, “in what we believe was a deliberate act of vandalism.”
Northumbria Police added that a 16-year-old was arrested in connection with the incident, noting he remained in police custody to assist the investigation and had not been formally charged.
The Northumberland National Park Authority has requested people not visit the site as officials determine “what has happened and to make the site safe.”
The Sycamore Gap tree, before it was cut down.
An image of the Sycamore Gap tree, located by Hadrian's Wall.
Visitors walking along the path by the Sycamore Gap.
The remains of the Sycamore Gap tree.
The Northumberland National Park Authority, which said there was “reason to believe it has been ... [+]
Andrew Poad, general manager of the National Trust, said the organization was “shocked and saddened” that the “iconic” tree had been felled, adding: “The tree has been an important and iconic feature in the landscape for nearly 200 years and means a lot to the local community and to anyone who has visited the sites.”
During the filming of an episode for British Isles – A Natural History in 2003, a helicopter crashed just 30 meters away from the tree, avoiding contact with both the tree and presenter Alan Titchmarsh, according to the Yorkshire Post. The crash resulted in minor injuries for three people aboard the helicopter.
The Sycamore Gap tree was maintained by both Northumberland National Park officials and the U.K.’s National Trust, and is noted by the Northumberland National Park Authority as its “most photographed spot.” The tree’s exact age is unknown, though estimates range between “nearly” 200 years and 300 years old, according to ABC News, though Poad referred to the tree as “nearly 200 years” old. The tree is located by a dip between two hills along Hadrian’s Wall, a wall constructed by Romans in the second century to mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire in modern Britain. The tree—named the “English Tree of the Year” in 2016—has been featured across television and film, including the Robin Hood film, the music video for Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” and the British television series Vera.
Sycamore Gap Tree At Hadrian’s Wall Cut Down By ‘Vandals’ (BBC)
UK Police Are Investigating The ‘Deliberate Felling’ Of A Famous Tree At Hadrian’s Wall (Associated Press)