A famous, approximately 300-year-old tree on Hadrian’s Wall in northern England, which became famous in the Hollywood film “Robin Hood – King of Thieves” with Kevin Costner, has been illegally felled. Police arrested a 16-year-old on suspicion of murder on Thursday. She did not provide any information about the possible motive.
The Mighty Sycamore Maple (in English sycamore maple) was also known as the Robin Hood tree because of the 1991 film. In one scene, Robin Hood intervenes when the tree is about to be felled and saves a youth who had taken refuge in the tree from his captors.
The Robin Hood tree was felled with a clean cut.
(Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
The nature conservation and monument preservation organization National Trust describes the fact that the tree was sawn down, more than three decades after the filming, as vandalism. It manages the Northumberland National Park. “We know how popular this iconic tree was locally, nationally and with all visitors. We are working with our partners to determine what happened and what can be done,” National Trust stressed.
The sycamore maple stood in a depression – the so-called Sycamore Gap – and was a popular photo motif. Pictures show that it was cut off with a clean cut just above the ground and then lay over Hadrian’s Wall.
Hadrian’s Wall runs through the north of England.
(Photo: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
The wall was built by the Romans in the second century AD to protect against attacks from the north and to control trade routes. Remains run through the hilly landscape near the English-Scottish border and are a popular hiking destination.
Local MP Guy Opperman described the tree as a symbol of North East England. It is without question a criminal act. “Even if the police catch the culprit – the tree is lost forever,” said the conservative politician.