New Shoots Surround Felled Sycamore Gap Stump in 'Encouraging' Sign of Recovery Three Years After Vandalism

Three years after one of Britain's most recognisable trees was illegally cut down, the remaining stump of the Sycamore Gap tree is showing fresh signs of life, with a dense ring of new shoots emerging around its base.

The landmark, which stood beside Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, was deliberately felled on 28 September 2023. Two men travelled from Cumbria during a storm to carry out the attack, an act that provoked widespread anger and disbelief across the country.

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were subsequently prosecuted for criminal damage to both the Victorian-planted tree and the Roman wall beside it. They were jailed for four years and three months in July 2025 for their roles in chopping down the tree with a chainsaw.

The National Trust, which cares for the site alongside Northumberland National Park, fenced off the stump after the felling to give it the best chance of regenerating. The charity has now confirmed that the stump is producing a thick layer of new growth.

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 linked them to the special measures taken at the site.

Those measures include reducing soil compaction around the tree's roots and limiting human disturbance in the immediate area. Poad said the trust was grateful to visitors who have supported its efforts to give the tree "the best possible chance to thrive".

He added that the tree is being monitored closely, and that rangers will manage it over time depending on how it develops. The fence surrounding the stump remains in place, with a wooden barrier and wire mesh protecting the new growth from damage.

The original tree was planted in the late 1800s and grew into a much-loved visitor destination at the former frontier of the Roman Empire. It became famous around the world after appearing in a scene from the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.

Its striking position in a dip in the landscape along Hadrian's Wall made it a favourite subject for photographers and artists. The site lies within the Northumberland National Park, and the tree was regarded as a defining feature of northern England's countryside.

The felling prompted an outpouring of public emotion, with many people describing the loss as an attack on a shared piece of national heritage. The two men filmed themselves during the act and removed a wedge of trunk as a trophy, according to the prosecution case.

Graham, a groundworker from near Carlisle, and Carruthers, a mechanic from Wigton, were 39 and 32 at the time of their conviction. They never explained their motive for what prosecutors called a "moronic mission", and during the trial they sought to blame each other.

After the tree was cut down, seedlings were collected and kept at a secret National Trust centre to help preserve the legacy of the much-photographed landmark. Saplings were later donated to community groups and charities around the country.

Art projects were also launched to highlight the importance of nature and to condemn the illegal felling. These efforts formed part of a wider attempt to ensure the tree's story continued even after the original trunk was destroyed.

The new shoots around the stump represent a different kind of survival. Rather than replacing the lost tree, they offer a living connection to it and a possible route for the site's future management.

For the National Trust, the growth is also evidence that careful stewardship can make a difference after severe damage. Reducing footfall pressure and protecting the soil around the roots appear to have created conditions in which the stump can regenerate.

The charity has not said whether the shoots will eventually be allowed to grow into a new tree, or whether they will be managed in another way. Poad's comments suggest that decisions will be guided by how the growth develops in the months and years ahead.

Visitors have continued to travel to the site, where the gap in the landscape left by the felling remains visible. The fence around the stump serves as a reminder of both the loss and the ongoing effort to protect what is left.

The case also highlighted the legal protections covering such landmarks. The convictions related not only to the tree but also to damage caused to Hadrian's Wall, a Roman structure of international archaeological importance.

Three years on, the story of the Sycamore Gap tree remains one of vandalism, public grief and, now, cautious optimism. The ring of new shoots is modest compared with the towering tree that once stood there, but it has given those involved in the site's care a reason to hope.

The National Trust has said it will continue to monitor the stump closely, with rangers ready to adapt their approach as the new growth matures. For now, the message from the charity is one of encouragement rather than certainty.

Nature, as Poad suggested, is taking its own course at the gap in the wall. The coming years will show whether the shoots around the stump can grow into something lasting, or whether they will remain a small but significant sign of recovery at a site that still means a great deal to many people.