Landmark To Legacy: Sycamore Gap’s Future Unveiled
Written by Grace Genevieve Stewart-Piercy on 3rd October 2024
Sycamore Gap was one of the most iconic locations in the North East, with a large leafy sycamore tree standing proudly in a dip along Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland.
Sycamore Gap, August 2017. Photo credit: Craig McAteer / Alamy Stock Photo
Planted over a century ago, the tree gained celebrity status due to its appearances in music videos and television programs, most notably in Kevin Costner’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
The emblem of the north was illegally felled a year ago. Two men were charged with criminal damage to both the tree and Hadrian’s Wall. They have entered not-guilty pleas to both charges. Their trial, presided over by Judge Paul Sloan, is set to begin in early December 2024.
Looking to the future, the National Trust has announced the Tree of Hope initiative, featuring 49 saplings. Members of the public are encouraged to bid for a sapling to be planted in publicly accessible spaces across the UK. Each of the 49 saplings represents one foot in height of the original tree. This initiative aims to maintain the emotional connection many had with the iconic tree. Applications open today, Friday 27th September 2024, and close on 24th October 2024.
To mark the anniversary of its felling, the Northumberland National Park Authority has unveiled a new exhibition at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre. Titled Sycamore Gap: One Year On, the exhibition will be inaugurated with the participation of 240 children from 13 schools before opening to the public on Saturday, 28th September. The exhibit will run until Sunday, 3rd November.
The temporary exhibition, created by Charlie Whinney and Creative Communities CIC, is designed to engage the public. Visitors will be invited to “make a promise to nature,” which will later be incorporated into the artwork for the exhibition. Community feedback will also be considered in the creation of the second phase, with the final part set to open by Easter 2025.
The hope for new life in the same spot is looking positive. In August this year, new shoots were discovered sprouting from the stump of the original tree, suggesting that Sycamore Gap may yet live on.
Photo of Sycamore Gap. Photo credit: Ashley D’Costa
