Six Months on after the Sycamore Gap Tree was Felled

Somehow the sense of loss at the wanton felling of the Sycamore Gap tree is more profound in the spring. Certainly, that is how it feels to visitors here, particularly those laying daffodils and rosary beads at the spot where it once stood.

For it was at this time of year when the mighty sentinel beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland was always at its resplendent best, with its glossy emerald leaves.

‘When the tree was in its glory, it felt a very special place, kind of mystical,’ says hiker Dee McGonagle, who like many others felt its destruction as a bereavement. Above, the drizzly grey sky suddenly brightens, making the void left by the famous landmark appear more conspicuous.

But beside memories, the mystery of what happened here in the middle of that stormy night last September dominates thoughts.

Six months on, the question remains unanswered: Who took a chainsaw to the 150-year-old tree, this great symbol of the North East, and why? And why have the police yet to bring someone before a court?

In truth, the investigation has quietly gathered pace and Northumbria Police are hopeful of pressing charges soon. Two men in their 30s remain on bail.

County councillor John Riddle recently asked a senior officer about progress and says he was told it was likely that a recommendation would be made to the Crown Prosecution Service.

He said: ‘I was pleasantly surprised because, like many others, I wondered if we’d ever get to the bottom of this.’

Something else which may surprise, says a source close to the investigation, is that the suspects are not local but come from neighbouring Cumbria. According to a source: ‘The theory is that whoever is responsible wasn’t motivated by grievance but acted out of sheer childishness.’

One early theory was that the tree was felled as a social media prank.

While there is no CCTV anywhere near the spot, it is understood that police know the feller’s route to the tree – the trail from Steel Rigg car park which follows Hadrian’s Wall on a rocky rollercoaster over hills and open moorland.

Mobile phone triangulation could, it is thought, feature in any prosecution but it is unclear to what extent, if any, DNA from the tree will play a part.

Samples would yield genetic material that could then be matched with sawdust found on the clothing or machinery of any potential suspects.

But the time lapsed since the crime would appear to indicate a paucity of forensic clues.

Three years ago, tree DNA was used as evidence in the US to convict the leader of a gang of illegal loggers who cut down prized maple trees in a Washington forest.

Few in this part of Northumberland believe the mystery of Sycamore Gap will be solved quite so easily however. Still, they were heartened to learn last month that fresh shoots have emerged from the tree’s rescued seeds and from twigs taken to a ‘high-security greenhouse’ in Devon the day after it was destroyed.

Back at Sycamore Gap there is similar hope. ‘This tree stump is still alive,’ warns a sign. ‘If we leave it alone, it might sprout new growth.’

Giant 100ft tribute to fallen Sycamore Gap tree is etched onto sand to mark six months since iconic plant was felled in horrific act of vandalism

A giant 100ft tribute to the felled Sycamore Gap tree has been carved into a beach in Northumberland to mark six months since the iconic plant was chopped down by vandals.

Retired doctor and beach artist Claire Eason led a team of ten volunteers who spent six hours painstakingly etching precise lines in the sand of Bamburgh beach.

The group used garden rakes to carve the intricate design which shows the iconic tree standing proudly along Hadrian’s Wall with a carved root scene underneath.

The 11-man team arrived on the beach at dawn to begin their six-hour project and persevered despite poor weather to create the stunning artwork.

Claire, 59, said she had been inspired to start the project after feeling a ‘personal shock’ at the terrible act of destruction on September 28 last year.

The project was led by the BBC’s The One Show and completed on February 13 but the tribute has only now been revealed.

The 59-year-old said: ‘When the tree came down a lot of us had a personal shock. That prompted me to create a design. ‘The idea is that it was quite a graphic boulder design as we had a lot of volunteers who hadn’t done anything before and it made it easier.

‘After that we had an idea of doing something more inclusive than me with a community.

‘Underneath there is a route system that embraces huge boulders which shows whatever happens next for the tree, where it will sprout again.

‘It’s a suggestion of Hadrian’s wall, nothing too detailed, just bold and graphic. I gave the volunteers free control over the boulder design.

‘There were ten people. The day did change a lot because of the weather, they turned up without any hesitation. ‘It was for The One Show and it was produced by a local company called Signpost Productions.

‘We arrived at dawn on the beach and the film crew were there. The light was beautiful. There’s a lot of repetition for filming.

‘The whole thing took a good six hours. The extra hour was waiting for the tide to come in.’

Retired doctor Claire created the design on a computer before using a giant grid system to accurately transfer the artwork to the sand.

She carved the tree herself while the team of volunteers carved the boulder and root section.

She said: ‘I didn’t want to over complicate the design as the result needs to be crisp. It’s an inclusive design.

‘Everyone rakes in a slightly different way so they all do different lines. It was 100ft long by 50ft wide. It’s definitely one of the biggest.

‘It was to tie in with the anniversary and it also happens to be in spring which is a time of renewal.’