Park authorities have decided Britain’s most famous trees will go on display after being felled in a ‘malicious act of vandalism’ in 2023.
Northumberland National Park said the largest section of the tree that once stood at Sycamore Gap will go on display at a nearby tourist attraction, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre.
The tree was part of the Hadrian’s Wall Unesco world heritage site, where it had stood for many decades to the delight of walkers, photographers and wedding proposals.
Earlier this week, two men who cut down the tree – which even featured in a shot from Kevin Costner’s 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – were jailed for four years.
Tony Gates, chief executive officer of Northumberland National Park, said of the felling: ‘The felling of the Sycamore Gap tree has shown just how much nature and landscape mean to people and to their very wellbeing.
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‘As stewards of the legacy of Sycamore Gap, the partners have been humbled by the outpouring of love and emotion for the tree.
‘We understand the diversity of opinions surrounding a future legacy and are committed to navigating this journey with the utmost care and respect.
‘We are grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding.’
The authority received more than 2,000 heartfelt messages of support and condolences from all over the world after the tree was cut down.
Two weeks after it was felled, what remained of the tree was cut up and moved away by crane for safekeeping while police made their inquiries.
32-year-old Adam Carruthers from Cumbria now has what may be the longest hangover in history – a four-year prison sentence for helping to cut down one of the UK’s most iconic trees.
Carruthers and his (now former) friend Daniel Graham, 39, have been jailed for destroying the Sycamore Gap tree.
In court, Carruthers finally gave an explanation – or at least an excuse – for the mindless act of thuggery that sparked national outrage and global headlines.
He was drunk, and doesn’t remember much.
His barrister, Andrew Gurney, said: ‘He felled that tree and it is something he will regret for the rest of his life. There’s no better explanation than that. Unfortunately, it is no more than drunken stupidity.’
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