The removal of the Sycamore Gap tree from next to Hadrian’s Wall has been likened to a funeral by a National Trust manager who worked around the 19th Century Northumberland tree for approximately 35 years. A crane has been brought in to take away the trunk, but due to its size, it had to be cut into large pieces. The tree will be transported to an unnamed National Trust property where it will be safely stored. The trunk will be kept in as large sections as possible, which will give experts flexibility for its future.
Part of Hadrian’s Wall was also affected when the tree came down sometime between the evening of September 27th and the morning of September 28th. Andrew Poad, the general manager of the site, said they explored all options to determine the safest way to remove the tree, as they did not want to damage the monument. He said that they did not want to limit their options for the future, so the trunk would be kept in as large possible pieces as they can and then speak to partners, the local community, and the public to come up with a way of memorializing the tree long-term.
The 50ft tree was renowned in the region and became an essential spot for photographers and walkers as it was situated in a dramatic dip in the land. The tree was planted in the late 1800s by a former landowner. Andrew Poad dubbed the tree’s final journey “a turning point” in the site’s history. He added that for those working there, they felt like they had lost a family member, and it had “touched an awful lot of people all over the world.”
Northumbria Police is investigating, and a 16-year-old boy and a man aged in his 60s, who were detained for suspicious damage, are still on bail. The public was warned to stay away from the landmark while it is being removed, but a few walkers came through to see the process on Thursday. It has been a significant challenge to remove the tree, but it has been a genuine collaborative effort by the partners on Hadrian’s Wall as they seek to be reflective of the tree’s significance and symbology
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