Three years after the Sycamore Gap tree was cut down, the National Trust has revealed a thick ring of new shoots.
The landmark tree was illegally felled on September 28 2023 by Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers who travelled from their homes in Cumbria to cut down the much-loved sycamore during a storm.
The friends were convicted of criminal damage to the much-loved tree, which had stood for more than 100 years in a fold in the Northumberland landscape.
Adam Carruthers, 33, was sentenced to four years and three months for causing criminal damage to the famous tree beside Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland, when he was jailed in July last year alongside Daniel Graham.
Mrs Justice Lambert told the pair they would serve 40% of the sentence behind bars, with the remainder being served on licence in the community.
Carruthers has since been released under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme.
They were also convicted of criminal damage to Hadrian’s Wall, caused when the sycamore fell on the ancient monument in September 2023.
During their trial, Newcastle Crown Court heard the two engaged in a “moronic mission” to cut down the landmark, travelling for more than 40 minutes from their homes in Cumbria, then carrying their equipment across pitch-black moorland during a storm in September 2023.
They took a wedge from the tree as a trophy that has never been recovered, and revelled in the media coverage as news of the vandalism caused national and international headlines.
The tree was a symbol of Northumberland and featured in the Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves. Its destruction took less than three minutes.
The destruction caused a national outcry and international headlines when the pair were jailed for criminal damage to the tree and the ancient wall.
In a bid to see if the stump would recover, the remains of the tree were fenced off.
New growth at the site at Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland stands two to three feet tall and show the benefit of keeping the area fenced off, the conservation charity has said.
Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust at Hadrian’s Wall said: “These flourishing shoots are really encouraging and show that the special measures we’ve taken, including reducing soil compaction around the roots and limiting human disturbance, are paying off.
“We’re grateful to all the visitors who, through the care they are taking, are supporting our efforts to protect the tree and give it the best possible chance to thrive.
“We’re monitoring the tree closely and, over time, our rangers will manage it depending on how it develops.
“But for now, we’re filled with hope by the way nature is taking its course.”
Saplings have been grown from seeds found at the site and arts projects have been launched to show the importance of nature in the modern world.
