White paint found on felled Sycamore Gap sparks mystery act 'wasn't spontaneous'

29 September 2023 , 09:21

509     0

White paint found on felled Sycamore Gap sparks mystery act 'wasn't spontaneous'

The felling of Sycamore Gap "wasn't spontaneous", National Trust says, because white paint appeared to be marked on the tree.

The 300-year-old sycamore, which stood in a dramatic dip in Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park (NNP), was mysteriously chopped down in a shocking act of vandalism and communities are furious.

A 16-year-old boy was arrested yesterday on suspicion of causing criminal damage, Northumbria Police said. National Trust indicated the devastation appears deliberate as it noted rangers found white paint on the tree when it had been felled in the early hours of Thursday. National Trust, which has acquired most of the land on which adjacent Hadrian's Wall sits, have helped NNP management and police to ensure the site is safe.

Sycamore Gap lies on the ground leaving behind only a stump in the spot it once proudly stood (Getty Images)

Andrew Poad, general manager of National Trust for Hadrian's Wall, told The Times: "I think it probably would have been done in about half an hour. You can see they have marked where they wanted it cut. So this wasn't a spontaneous thing. It would have been done in the night when nobody could hear the sound of a chainsaw because of the wind. But we just don't know."

It is suggested the paint may have been used to indicate where best to cut the huge tree, one of the most photographed in the country. Police, though, are keeping an open mind and want to talk to anyone with any information.

Urgent warning to parents after man tries to persuade children to get into car

Investigations continue into the felling of tree, which appeared in the 1991 Kevin Costner film 'Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves' (Getty Images)

And a landlord whose pub stands close to an iconic tree has offered a £1,500 reward for anyone who brings the guilty party to justice. The Twice Brewed Inn called the destruction "senseless".

The pub's statement reads: "Everyone at The Twice Brewed Inn is devastated by the senseless felling of the beloved Sycamore Gap tree. This iconic landmark is woven throughout The Twice Brewed - from our logo to our sister Brewery's award-winning ale - and we are truly appalled by its destruction. We are offering a £1,500 bar tab as a reward to the person who provides information to Northumbria Police that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for destroying such a precious beacon of natural beauty on Hadrian's Wall."

Northumbria Police is appealing to the public for information. Superintendent Kevin Waring said: "Given our investigation remains at a very early stage, we are keeping an open mind. I am appealing to the public for information to assist us – if you have seen or heard anything suspicious that may be of interest to us, please let us know. Any information – no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be – could prove absolutely crucial to our inquiries."

Bradley Jolly