Farewell Sycamore Gap

Published 1 October 2023

The now felled tree in Sycamore Gap on Hadrian's Wall

It’s one of the most iconic sights on the Pennine Way. A dip on Hadrian’s Wall where, in the middle of a wall. For 200 years the tree stood tall and proud. Photographed by thousands, loved by millions.

And then this week, in September 2023, someone decided to fell this tree. Someone appears to have lugged a chainsaw up the path, and cut the tree down. And left it there.

Not the landowners. It was on land owned by the National Trust. Just someone.

I can’t quite fathom it. Don’t quite believe why anyone would do such a thing. It’s hard to comprehend. But they did. And a North East landmark is now no more.

Sycamore Gap, where a tree grew in a gap in Hadrian's Wall
Once one of the most picturesque locations on the whole of the Pennine Way.

Comments

Vic Flange

1 October 2023 at 9:39 am

I was stunned when I heard of this. Just defies belief: quite why someone would randomly go to the trouble of taking a chainsaw up there (as I recall the nearest road is at least a few hundred metres away) and cut down an inoffensive tree is beyond comprehension. Still, that just about sums up where we’re at in this country these days. Sigh.

Have your say