Moments after world famous tree cut down in ’act of vandalism’

The Sycamore Gap, located in Northumberland along the site of Hadrian’s Wall, is perhaps most famous for featuring in the 1991 blockbuster film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves , starring Kevin Costner and Morgan... Heartbreak as famous Sycamore Gap tree is CUT DOWN in ’malicious act of vandalism’ - as park bosses suspect 300-year-old landmark along Hadrian’s Wall was ’deliberately felled’ overnight A world famous tree has been chopped down overnight in a ’malicious act of vandalism’, sparking an outpouring of grief from devastated locals and nature lovers. The Sycamore Gap, located in Northumberland along the site of Hadrian’s Wall, is one of the UK’s most photographed trees and famously featured in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman. The iconic tree, which is believed to be 300 years old, was this morning found to have been cut down, with its upper section lying across the historic Roman barrier. Walkers stopping to look today noticed part of the tree appeared to have been marked with white paint, indicating someone may have felled it with a chainsaw. The tree is located in a dramatic dip along Hadrian’s Wall in the Northumberland National Park - and the park authority believe it was deliberately chopped down. People have been discouraged from visiting the spot while the hunt for clues goes on and a police investigation takes place. Known to some as the Robin Hood Tree after its appearance in Kevin Costner’s 1991 film, Sycamore Gap is one of the most photographed trees in the country. It stands next to Hadrian’s Wall near Crag Lough in Northumberland and is believed to have been planted in the early 18th Century. It is said to have once stood alongside others but eventually became the only one left - making it especially photogenic. In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the hero - played by Costner - is seen pulling leaves from the tree as he walks under it with the warrior Azeem, who is played by Morgan Freeman. The tree also featured in the music video for American star Bryan Adams’ hit (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, which was the soundtrack for Costner’s Robin Hood film. In 2003, the tree escaped damage when a helicopter that was filming documentary series British Isles - A Natural History crashed less than 100 feet away. The four onboard the aircraft were injured, but presenter Alan Titchmarsh, who was standing on the ground, narrowly escaped harm. Titchmarsh said at the time: ’I was pretty shaken and I was worried the copter was going to explode. The crew scrambled out and ran like hell.’ An eyewitness added: ’Alan Titchmarsh was very lucky not to be hit. ’He was almost underneath the helicopter when it fell but jumped out of the way as it came down. ’The aircraft landed on its side and everyone, including Alan, ran to help. Everyone was amazed the crew were not seriously hurt.’ ’We are working with the relevant agencies and partners with an interest in this iconic North East landmark and will issue more details once they are known.’ They added: ’It is not clear currently whether the tree is a victim of Storm Agnes or it is a deliberate act - though pictures indicate a clean and straight cut.’ Matt Brown, 37, of the Twice Brewed Brew Company nearby, was one of the first at the scene Mr Brown said: ’I was brewing when I heard a rumour that the tree at Sycamore Gap had been cut down and ran over to see what had happened. ’It was a quite a shock to see it lying there, that tree is a real icon and to those of us who were born in this area it really means something. ’It was certainly cut down with a chainsaw - and a big one. It looks as though it has been cut through with one stroke which means the blade must have been about two metres long. ’It was done overnight and seems to be a thought out and planned act. But why anyone would choose to do such a thing is beyond me. ’There can’t be anyone with such an issue against that particular tree that they walk a mile at night to go and saw it down, it’s an act of malice but can only be for malice’s sake. ’The tree can be seen from the old military road that passes by but to access it you have to climb over barbed wire and walk through marshy ground for a mile. ’I noticed also that the trunk had been marked at the spot where the cut was going to be made. ’This is someone who knows how to fell trees and made sure it toppled in the right direction, but it’s hard to fathom why anyone would do this. ’I was speaking to a Canadian lady only yesterday who had come to this spot specifically to see the Sycamore Gap tree, it is an icon and something particularly special to the brewery. ’Our signature ale is called Sycamore Gap and the tree is our logo. It’s genuinely hard to believe that this has happened. The Sycamore Gap was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trust’s awards and is much-loved by people from across the world.