text and photo: Dominika Zaręba
The land known as Northumbria, located in the north-eastern corner of England, is famous for Hadrian’s Wall – a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by Emperor Hadrian in the first half of the 2nd century. It was intended to mark the northern border of the Roman Empire in Britain, and today it is a destination for eco-tourism hikes in Northumberland National Park.
The picturesque 135 km path running along the wall is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in the British Isles.
Until recently, the symbol of this place was a 200-year-old tree – a sycamore maple of exceptional beauty growing in a fault between the rolling hills that cut across Hadrian’s Wall. The most photogenic tree in the world, known as Robin Hood’s tree, because it appeared in a 1991 American film starring Kevin Costner. The Sycamore Gap Tree was even named Tree of the Year in the United Kingdom in 2017.
Unfortunately, in 2023, on a certain autumn night, the tree was brutally cut down. The reason for this act of vandalism is still unknown, but one of the motives could have been the desire to have a trophy… Almost the entire country mourned the beloved tree.
However, the sycamore maple showed its strength; shoots began to grow from its trunk, and with them, new life. In reference to the 49 feet height of the original tree, 49 seedlings were grown from its seeds. As part of the National Trust’s ‘Trees of Hope’ campaign, they will soon be planted in symbolic locations representing the cultural and natural heritage of the United Kingdom.
Trees are witnesses to history – past, present and future. They are rooted in our culture, stories, legends and memories. They connect people and communities, building bonds between humans and nature. They shape the landscape, its silhouette, beauty and harmony. They show travellers the way and help them find their bearings. They also care for our well-being: they absorb carbon from the atmosphere, retain precious water, and protect us from droughts, floods and heat. They are home to birds, smaller animals, fungi and other microorganisms…
A still from the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, featuring Sycamore Gap Tree:
