The director of the popular Hollywood film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Kevin Reynolds, has spoken out against the recent felling of the tree at Sycamore Gap in the UK, which featured in one of the movie’s most famous scenes. Said to have been one of the most idyllic spots in the world, Reynolds described the loss of the tree as “ugly”, “despicable” and “senseless”. Reynolds first became familiar with the Hadrian’s Wall site when he visited as an American college student and it was later included in the film due to its breathtaking scenery.
The director, who heard about the tree being cut down while on a boat off the coast of Turkey, said he was “stunned”, “gutted” and then furious. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starred Hollywood heavyweights Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman. As well as playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in the movie, Rickman went on to become well-known for his portrayal of Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise. Reynolds lamented the loss of the tree as being comparable to that of Rickman who died in 2016.
The tree was felled on the night of 27 September and two people were arrested. A 16-year-old boy and a man in his 60s were held on suspicion of criminal damage and subsequently released on bail. The tree’s removal caused damage to Hadrian’s Wall and the trunk has since been cut up and removed from the area. Senior National Trust manager Andrew Poad said the tree was incidental until the Robin Hood film was released, after which it attracted thousands of visitors each year.
Despite the possibility of growing shoots from its stump, Kevin Reynolds believes that due to the age of the tree, the damage inflicted by its removal is permanent. He expressed gratitude that the tree was captured on film and remains available online for people to enjoy. Si King, chef and Hairy Biker, called the tree’s removal an “affront to anybody who loves the natural world” and feels that it strikes at the very heart of the North East’s sense of “place”. The National Trust is discussing how best to honour the site
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