New Shoots Surround Sycamore Gap Stump as National Trust Says Recovery Signs Are 'Encouraging'

Three years after one of Britain's most beloved trees was deliberately cut down, the remaining stump of the Sycamore Gap tree is showing what conservationists describe as promising signs of regeneration. A thick ring of fresh shoots has emerged around the base of the felled landmark, offering a measure of hope to those who mourned its loss.

The tree, which stood in a dramatic dip beside Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, was attacked on the night of 28 September 2023. Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers travelled from their homes in Cumbria during a storm to carry out the felling, an act that prompted widespread public anger and disbelief.

The National Trust, which cares for the site along with Northumberland National Park, responded by fencing off the stump to give it the best possible chance of survival. The organisation also took steps to reduce soil compaction around the roots and to limit disturbance by visitors, measures intended to create conditions in which the tree might regrow.

Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust, said he was "filled with hope by the way nature is taking its course". He described the flourishing shoots as "really encouraging" and pointed to the special measures taken as evidence that the recovery effort is paying off. Poad also expressed gratitude to visitors who have supported the trust's work, saying their cooperation is helping to give the tree "the best possible chance to thrive".

The trust said it is monitoring the stump closely, with rangers set to manage the new growth depending on how it develops over time. That careful approach reflects the unusual situation facing the site, where a single tree carries enormous cultural and emotional significance far beyond its botanical value.

The original sycamore was planted in the late 1800s and grew into a much-photographed destination on the former frontier of the Roman Empire. It became globally recognisable after appearing in a scene from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, and remained a favourite subject for photographers and artists. The combination of the tree's striking position and the sweeping wall made it one of northern England's most iconic views.

The felling sparked outrage across the country, not least because the tree was seen as irreplaceable. Graham and Carruthers were jailed for four years and three months in July 2025 for their roles in cutting it down with a chainsaw. They were 39 and 32 at the time of their conviction.

During the trial, it emerged that the pair had filmed themselves in the act and took a wedge of trunk away as a trophy. Graham, a groundworker from near Carlisle, and Carruthers, a mechanic from Wigton, never explained their motive for what prosecutors called a "moronic mission". Instead, they sought to blame each other for the offence. Both men were convicted of criminal damage to the Victorian-planted tree and to the Roman wall.

The case drew attention to the legal protections surrounding historic landscapes and the depth of public attachment to particular natural features. Hadrian's Wall itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the tree had become a symbol of the border country's identity, drawing visitors from around the world.

In the aftermath of the felling, the National Trust collected seeds and seedlings from the tree and kept them at a secret location to help preserve its legacy. Saplings were later donated to community groups and charities across the country, while art projects were launched to highlight the importance of nature and to condemn the illegal felling.

Those efforts formed part of a broader attempt to ensure that the tree's story would continue even after its trunk was gone. The new growth around the stump adds another chapter, suggesting that the original plant may yet endure in some form.

For the National Trust, the priority now is to protect the stump and allow the shoots to develop naturally. The fencing around the base is intended to prevent damage from trampling and to keep the area undisturbed. The trust has not said how large the shoots might eventually grow or whether they could one day form a replacement tree.

Conservationists caution that early regrowth does not guarantee long-term survival, particularly for a species and specimen that has already suffered severe trauma. Yet the appearance of a dense ring of new shoots is a tangible sign that the root system remains alive and capable of sending up fresh growth.

The site remains a place of pilgrimage for many who admired the original tree, and the trust's appeal for visitors to respect the fencing reflects the continuing sensitivity of the location. For now, the stump beside Hadrian's Wall stands as both a reminder of what was lost and a small, green indication that nature is not quite finished with Sycamore Gap.