Sycamore Gap stump shows 'encouraging' regrowth three years after illegal felling

New shoots have begun to emerge around the base of the Sycamore Gap tree stump, marking what conservationists describe as an encouraging development nearly three years after the landmark was illegally cut down.

A thick ring of fresh growth now surrounds the stump on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, suggesting the tree's root system remains alive and capable of regenerating. The National Trust, which manages the site, has fenced off the area to give the remaining stump the best possible chance of recovery.

Andrew Poad, the trust's general manager for the site, said he was "filled with hope by the way nature is taking its course." He described the flourishing shoots as "really encouraging" and said they demonstrated that the special measures taken since the felling were paying off.

Those measures have included reducing soil compaction around the tree's roots and limiting human disturbance in the immediate area. The stump has been enclosed behind a wooden fence with wire mesh, protecting it from further damage while allowing visitors to view the site.

The tree stood for well over a century on the historic frontier of the Roman Empire. It was planted in the late 1800s and grew into one of the most photographed natural features in northern England, becoming a much-loved destination for walkers, photographers and artists.

Its global fame grew considerably after it appeared in a scene from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner. The combination of the tree's dramatic setting, framed by the rolling dip in the landscape, and its connection to the Roman wall made it a symbol of the region's natural and cultural heritage.

That status made the events of 28 September 2023 all the more shocking. During a storm, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers travelled from their homes in Cumbria to the site and used a chainsaw to cut the tree down. The pair filmed themselves carrying out the act and removed a wedge of the trunk as a trophy.

The felling triggered widespread outrage across the country and beyond, with the loss of the tree dominating news coverage and prompting an outpouring of grief from members of the public who had visited the site or admired it from afar. The two men were later jailed for criminal damage to both the Victorian-planted tree and the Roman wall on which it stood.

Graham and Carruthers received prison sentences of four years and three months in July 2025. At the time of their conviction they were 39 and 32 respectively. Graham worked as a groundworker from near Carlisle, while Carruthers was a mechanic from Wigton.

Neither man ever provided an explanation for what prosecutors described as a "moronic mission." During their trial, each sought to place blame on the other, offering no clear motive for the destruction of such a well-known landmark.

The National Trust has been closely monitoring the stump since the felling, assessing whether the root system survived the trauma of the tree being cut at its base. The emergence of a thick layer of shoots suggests that the tree retains the capacity to regrow, although experts caution that the future shape and health of any new growth remain uncertain.

Poad said the trust would continue to watch the tree closely, adding that rangers would manage the developing shoots over time depending on how they progress. "We're monitoring the tree closely and, over time, our rangers will manage it depending on how it develops," he said.

He also expressed gratitude to the visitors who have supported the trust's efforts, saying their cooperation was helping to give the tree "the best possible chance to thrive." The site is looked after jointly by the National Trust and Northumberland National Park.

Beyond the immediate regrowth at the stump, efforts have been under way to preserve the tree's legacy in other forms. After the felling, seedlings were collected and kept at a secret National Trust centre, part of a wider project intended to safeguard the genetic heritage of the much-photographed landmark.

Saplings raised from those seeds were subsequently donated to community groups and charities across the country. Art projects were also launched to highlight the importance of nature and to express condemnation of the illegal felling, drawing on the deep public attachment to the tree.

The story of the Sycamore Gap tree has continued to resonate well beyond Northumberland. Its destruction became a focal point for debates about the protection of iconic natural landmarks and the penalties available for those who damage them.

For now, the focus at the site rests on the ring of new shoots around the stump. While it will take many years, if not decades, for any replacement tree to approach the scale and silhouette of the original sycamore, the sight of fresh growth offers a measure of optimism to those who campaigned for the site to be given a chance to recover.

The National Trust's approach reflects a broader principle in conservation: that even after severe damage, nature can sometimes regenerate if the underlying conditions are protected. The fencing, the reduced footfall pressure around the roots and the careful monitoring all form part of an effort to let that process unfold without interference.

Visitors to Hadrian's Wall will continue to see the stump enclosed within its protective barrier, a reminder of what was lost as well as what may yet return. The trust has indicated that its management of the site will evolve in response to how the shoots develop in the coming seasons.