Famous 'Sycamore Gap tree' in northern England found cut down overnight; 16-year-old arrested

Authorities in England have arrested a 16-year-old boy after one of the most famous trees in the world was cut down overnight Thursday.

Authorities in England have arrested a 16-year-old boy after one of the most famous trees in the world was cut down overnight Thursday.

The "Sycamore Gap tree," also sometimes known as the "Robin Hood tree," was found deliberately cut down early Thursday, according to officials.

"Northumberland National Park Authority can confirm that sadly, the famous tree at Sycamore Gap has come down over night," the park wrote in a statement. "We have reason to believe it has been deliberately felled."

PHOTO: A rose lies near Sycamore Gap tree that was felled, in Northumberland, Britain, Sept. 28, 2023.
A rose lies near Sycamore Gap tree that was felled, in Northumberland, Britain, Sept. 28, 2023.
Lee Smith/Reuters
PHOTO: A picture taken on June 4, 2023, shows the Sycamore Gap tree along Hadrian's Wall near Hexham, northern England.
A picture taken on June 4, 2023, shows the Sycamore Gap tree along Hadrian's Wall near Hexham, northern England. One of the UK's most photographed trees, located next to the Roman-era Hadrian's Wall in northeast England, has been "deliberately felled," the authority responsible for the local National Park said on Sept. 28, 2023.
Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

A 16-year-old boy was arrested "in connection with the incident," according to Northumbria police.

"He remains in police custody at this time and is assisting officers with their enquiries," Northumbria police wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Given our investigation remains at a very early stage, we are keeping an open mind."

MORE: Historic banyan tree in Maui shows signs of growth after wildfire damage

The statement continued, "We are working with the relevant agencies and partners with an interest in this iconic North East landmark and will issue more details once they are known."

The tree, which is about 300 years old, was located next to Hadrian's Wall, built by the Romans beginning in 122 A.D. to mark the northern limits of Roman Britannia.

PHOTO: General view of the Sycamore Gap tree that was felled, in Northumberland, Britain, Sept. 28, 2023.
General view of the Sycamore Gap tree that was felled, in Northumberland, Britain, Sept. 28, 2023.
Lee Smith/Reuters

The tree is sometimes called the "Robin Hood tree" because it was featured prominently in the Kevin Costner-led film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," released in 1991.

"I can’t express how angry I am at the vandalism of the tree at #SycamoreGap," North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll wrote on X, prior to the arrest. "People have had their ashes scattered there. People have proposed there. I’ve picnicked there with my wife and kids. It’s part of our collective soul."

The tree was voted the English Tree of the Year in 2016.

ABC News' Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Donations by top 50 US donors fell again in 2023, sliding to $12B − Mike Bloomberg, Phil and Penny Knight, and Michael and Susan Dell led the list of biggest givers

The top 50 American individuals and couples who gave or pledged the most to charity in 2023 committed US$12 billion to foundations, universities, hospitals and more. That total was 28% below an inflation-adjusted $16.5 billion in 2022, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s latest annual tally of these donations. The Conversation U.S. asked David Campbell, Angela R. Logan and Michael Moody, three scholars of philanthropy, to assess the significance of these gifts and to consider what they indicate about the state of charitable giving in the United States. What trends stand out overall? David Campbell: As was the case in 2022, more than one-third of these big gifts – $4.4 billion – went to donors’ personal foundations. Another $764.3 million flowed into donor-advised funds. Also known as DAFs, these charitable savings accounts make it possible for donors to reserve assets such as cash, stocks and bonds for future charitable gifts. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, ...
Read more

Celtics vs Nuggets 3/7 Same Game Parlay Picks at +520 odds | Pickswise

Tonight we may very well be seeing an NBA Finals preview. The Boston Celtics have been the clear cream of the crop in the Eastern Conference and have dominated the conference. With the likes of the 76ers dealing with key injuries and the Milwaukee Bucks still establishing their identity, they will be favorites to progress in the playoffs. The Nuggets are not far off the conference lead themselves and have a playoff proven team. Both teams will know they could see each other for their final game of the 2023-2024 season, which should make tonight’s matchup intriguing. You can check out all of our NBA picks for today’s Game s, but for now let’s jump into my Celtics vs Nuggets Same Game Parlay. Nuggets ML (-104) Jokic 10+ assists (+125) Jokic over 12.5 rebounds (+100) NBA parlay odds: +520 Denver Nuggets ML over Boston Celtics (-104) Both teams are coming into this game after a loss, with the home side having a much more urgent need to bounce right back. The Nuggets are just a g...
Read more