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Original poster

Sycamore Gap - tree has been felled!

707 replies

NepheliLoux · 28/09/2023 10:51

Looks like someone has deliberately felled the famous tree in Sycamore Gap. I can’t believe anyone would do such a thing. I don’t normally get emotional but this has really upset me. It’s absolutely irreplaceable.

OP posts:
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28
GoodOldEmmaNess · 28/09/2023 21:16

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 21:12

Well, whoever did it, they’re clearly not poplar.

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In my day, they could have expected the birch.

honkersbonkers38 · 28/09/2023 21:16

It's really upset me too.

Tenashelflife · 28/09/2023 21:17

@purplepencilcase hmmm I'm not sure. It's a tough landscape. He would have had to get there on a quad bike for sure but to do all that, in the middle of the night and not have the tree accidentally fall on you? He must have had help for sure. It was stormy here in Northumberland last night too.

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 21:17

GoodOldEmmaNess · 28/09/2023 21:16

In my day, they could have expected the birch.

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Yew cannot be serious.

Willyoujustbequiet · 28/09/2023 21:19

Bideshi · 28/09/2023 20:32

@@Willyoujustbequiet @Missingpresumedhidden
According to the Woodland Trust who are the authority on British Woodland trees, sycamore did not start to be naturalised until the middle of the 19th century. The first ones would have been in the vicinity of ornamental parkland, which this is not, so it would have been several generations later, say the 1890s and that's a generous timeframe for such a remote place. So the oldest that it could logically be is about 130 years old.
Additionally, old specimens of sycamore have a different bark; it becomes deeply fissured and develops platelets which I'm not seeing in the pictures of the felled trees. I'm also a horticultural professional, by the way.
I reiterate. My DH did the original survey and conservation plan for this section of the wall. Freelance landscape architect specialising in trees in landscape, and commissioned by the National Trust. That would have been in the 1990s and a tree survey was part of that conservation plan. He put the tree then at 60-70 years old which would have made it about 100 now. That looks about right to me considering the size and the status of the bark. Bear in mind that sycamore are very fast growing and early to mature.
However, this being MN, I'm sure you know better than the experts so I'm happy to go along with your superior knowledge. And whatever the age of the tree, this is an act of pointless vandalism. The tree can be cloned and replaced, but it's not really the same, is it?.

I'm sorry but you are still incorrect.

The Woodland Trust states that the sycamore was possibly introduced by the Romans or in the 1500s. Either way several hundred years earlier than you claim.

People are free to Google it and virtually every source says the same so please stop derailing, people are upset enough.

Tenashelflife · 28/09/2023 21:20

Apparently something was posted online before it was quickly taken down which is why the police knew who to arrest. So it sounds like it was a mindless TikTok type dare.

GoodOldEmmaNess · 28/09/2023 21:20

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 21:17

Yew cannot be serious.

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Fir now, let's just say it's the plane truth. I won't change my opinion for alder tea in China.

ThePoshUns · 28/09/2023 21:25

I hope whoever did this is named and shamed, regardless of how old they are.

Forwardthinkinglobster · 28/09/2023 21:27

I just KNEW this would be some kind of TikTok challenge. 200 years of history gone in the blink of an eye for a bit of social media attention. My blood is boiling!

Mountaineer0009 · 28/09/2023 21:28

AtmosAtmos · 28/09/2023 21:05

This thread has frankly become weird - aliens, arguing about the age of the tree (rings will presumably be counted) , could a 16 year old fell it (wait for the police investigation) or that a tree is not as important as a child.

An iconic tree, beloved of my area has been destroyed- just so sad

a craft under research and development that had power level issues and clipped the tree

Janieforever · 28/09/2023 21:36

There is something odd about it though. The tree should be perpendicular to the stump. That’s how they fall. It is not where it fell. It can’t have rolled.

part of it is missing, part of the trunk. If you look at the image of it standing, the length of trunk from the bottom branch, and see what’s on the ground, it’s been cut just below the bottom branch, someone has taken the trunk

so this can’t have been a 16 year old on their own. The tree has had its lower trunk stolen and its position doesn’t seem right. The trunk would weigh a ton.

Sycamore Gap - tree has been felled!
Sycamore Gap - tree has been felled!
EarthSight · 28/09/2023 21:40

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

They're angry at society and their community, and take it out on them. They want everyone else to be punished, to feel as miserable as they are, or they just do it for the lolz. Sorry you have to live in that.

Mountaineer0009 · 28/09/2023 21:42

Janieforever · 28/09/2023 21:36

There is something odd about it though. The tree should be perpendicular to the stump. That’s how they fall. It is not where it fell. It can’t have rolled.

part of it is missing, part of the trunk. If you look at the image of it standing, the length of trunk from the bottom branch, and see what’s on the ground, it’s been cut just below the bottom branch, someone has taken the trunk

so this can’t have been a 16 year old on their own. The tree has had its lower trunk stolen and its position doesn’t seem right. The trunk would weigh a ton.

as an X file, wearing my fox mulder hat, why would you take part of a trunk ? could an item have been embedded in the trunk ?

ilovesushi · 28/09/2023 21:44

Really sad.

User19537876 · 28/09/2023 21:48

I must admit the position does look a bit odd but I know nothing about tree felling, maybe it bounced a bit or do they just go with a thud

billycat321 · 28/09/2023 21:49

Experts think that it is still alive. It will probably grow new shoots from around the base. My cherry tree was stone dead 2 years ago. I cut the dead bit out and new shoots grew and this year had a decent crop of cherries. Nature has wonderful recuperating powers. It will be many years before it looks like it was but it has not gone for ever. As for the toerag who cut it down- a sixteen year old? With a chainsaw? Not your normal vandal

forevaworried · 28/09/2023 21:50

I would imagine it had one hell of a TPO on it so definitely a crime to fell it. If someone wanted it down they’d need planning permission which no one would have agreed to. Definitely criminal. And very sad.

DisquietintheRanks · 28/09/2023 21:53

User19537876 · 28/09/2023 21:48

I must admit the position does look a bit odd but I know nothing about tree felling, maybe it bounced a bit or do they just go with a thud

The can bounce, twist and roll and there are ways of felling that let you control the direction of descent (not that I'd fancy trying them in a storm mind) but the pp is right, it looks like there is a section of trunk missing

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 21:53

GoodOldEmmaNess · 28/09/2023 21:20

Fir now, let's just say it's the plane truth. I won't change my opinion for alder tea in China.

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Wood you believe it - I’ve been holly outclassed. I’m off to take a walk on the beech.

Janieforever · 28/09/2023 21:59

I have been looking at pics on twitter, or x as it’s called now. the trunk looked to be at least 15 foot long. It’s missing.

in addition the cut at the base of what’s left and the stump is different. The tree is also quite far away from where it would have feel it’s not bounced or moved naturally it’s too undamaged further up.

this wasnt some 16 year old on their own. This is at least two skilled surgeons with proper equipment. And they have the trunk.

MissMillyFluff · 28/09/2023 22:01

On my local North East news, from the border of Northumberland, they aged it as being between 160 and 300. Nevertheless, it was a spiritual place for many people. Something that should be mentioned is the financial impact on the North East and Northumberland. Walkers put revenue into our economy with pubs, hotels etc.. let's face it, we need that revenue as we get sod all from government. My daughter told me a local farmer was pissed off with walkers parking on his land, don't know how true this is... maybe a son took it into his own hands.. regardless, it was a spiritual, very special place and if anyone thinks differently please scroll by my post.

Mountaineer0009 · 28/09/2023 22:01

Janieforever · 28/09/2023 21:59

I have been looking at pics on twitter, or x as it’s called now. the trunk looked to be at least 15 foot long. It’s missing.

in addition the cut at the base of what’s left and the stump is different. The tree is also quite far away from where it would have feel it’s not bounced or moved naturally it’s too undamaged further up.

this wasnt some 16 year old on their own. This is at least two skilled surgeons with proper equipment. And they have the trunk.

which overall makes it very very x files worthy

UnctuousUnicorns · 28/09/2023 22:01

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 21:12

Well, whoever did it, they’re clearly not poplar.

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That's plane to see.

quiteoldad · 28/09/2023 22:01

Seadragonusgiganticusmaximus · 28/09/2023 21:53

Wood you believe it - I’ve been holly outclassed. I’m off to take a walk on the beech.

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Please don't try to make jokes about it, this is not a larching matter.

CatamaranViper · 28/09/2023 22:02

Mountaineer0009 · 28/09/2023 21:42

as an X file, wearing my fox mulder hat, why would you take part of a trunk ? could an item have been embedded in the trunk ?

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Trophy!
It'll be worth loads, especially now.
This was my claim up the thread and I stand by it