Sycamore Gap stump shows 'encouraging' new growth three years after illegal felling

Three years after the illegal felling that shocked the nation, the stump of the Sycamore Gap tree is showing signs of recovery, with a thick ring of fresh shoots emerging around its base.

The new growth has been described as "encouraging" by the National Trust, the charity that cares for the site alongside Northumberland National Park. The development offers a glimmer of hope that the much-photographed landmark may yet live on in some form, even though the original tree itself can never be replaced.

The tree stood beside Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland and was one of the most recognisable natural features in northern England. It was cut down on 28 September 2023 by Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who travelled from their homes in Cumbria during a storm to carry out the attack with a chainsaw.

The felling provoked widespread public anger and mourning, with the story making headlines around the world. The tree had been planted in the late Victorian era and had grown into a beloved visitor destination, drawing photographers, artists and walkers to the remote stretch of countryside.

National Trust general manager Andrew Poad said he was "filled with hope by the way nature is taking its course" as he confirmed the appearance of the new shoots. He said the flourishing growth was "really encouraging" and indicated that the special measures taken to protect the site were having an effect.

Those measures include reducing soil compaction around the roots and limiting human disturbance in the immediate area. A fence has been erected around the stump to keep visitors at a safe distance and to allow the tree the best possible chance to regenerate naturally.

Poad added that the trust was grateful to visitors who had supported its efforts to give the tree "the best possible chance to thrive". He explained that the tree would be monitored closely, with rangers managing its development over time depending on how it grows.

The appearance of new shoots does not mean the original tree has been saved. What remains is a stump, and any growth from it will be new material rather than a restoration of the tree as it was. Even so, the shoots represent a living connection to a landmark that many people had assumed was lost forever.

The two men responsible for the felling were jailed for four years and three months in July 2025. Graham, a groundworker from near Carlisle, and Carruthers, a mechanic from Wigton, were 39 and 32 at the time of their conviction.

During their trial, the court heard that the pair had filmed themselves carrying out the act and took away a wedge of the trunk as a trophy. They never offered an explanation for what prosecutors described as a "moronic mission", instead seeking to blame one another for the attack.

Their conviction related to criminal damage to both the tree, which had been planted in the Victorian period, and the Roman wall beside which it grew. The case drew intense public interest, reflecting the depth of feeling attached to a tree that had become a symbol of the Northumberland landscape.

The tree's fame extended far beyond its home region. It featured in a scene from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, and subsequently became a magnet for visitors from across the UK and overseas.

In the aftermath of the felling, the National Trust took steps to preserve the tree's legacy. Seedlings were cultivated at a secret trust centre, with saplings later donated to community groups and charities around the country. Art projects were also launched to highlight the importance of nature and to condemn the illegal act.

The site remains under the care of the National Trust and Northumberland National Park. The stump sits against Hadrian's Wall, the ancient frontier of the Roman Empire, in open countryside that continues to attract visitors despite the loss of its most famous feature.

For now, the focus is on the slow process of natural regeneration. The ring of shoots is a modest but visible sign of life at a location that became synonymous with loss. Whether the stump develops into a substantial tree in its own right will depend on how it responds over the coming years.