Three years after the famous Sycamore Gap tree was illegally cut down, a thick ring of shoots has grown at the site. The stump, next to the historic Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, is now surrounded by shoots standing two to three feet high.
The tree was felled by Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who travelled from their homes in Cumbria during a storm on September 28, 2023, to carry out the 'moronic mission'. As it fell, the tree crashed down onto Hadrian's Wall while Graham filmed on his phone. The pair also took away a section of the tree as they left.
The incident caused a national outcry at the time, and the pair were jailed for four years and three months each for criminal damage – both to the tree and to the nearby ancient wall – in July 2025.
Recovery efforts showing promise
In the hope it would recover, the tree stump was fenced off, a move the National Trust now says is beginning to pay off. Saplings have been grown from seeds found at the site, while art projects inspired by the tree show the importance of nature in the modern world.
Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust at Hadrian's Wall, said: 'These flourishing shoots are really encouraging and show that the special measures we've taken, including reducing soil compaction around the roots and limiting human disturbance, are paying off.'
'We're grateful to all the visitors who, through the care they are taking, are supporting our efforts to protect the tree and give it the best possible chance to thrive. We're monitoring the tree closely and, over time, our rangers will manage it depending on how it develops. But for now, we're filled with hope by the way nature is taking its course.'
Background and sentencing
The tree was likely planted in the late 19th century and had become a popular tourist attraction, drawing in visitors for picnics, proposals, to spread ashes and to celebrate birthdays.
Sentencing Graham and Carruthers last year, Mrs Justice Lambert said she believed 'bravado' and 'thrill-seeking' were motivating factors in the crime. She rejected a claim by Carruthers that he was drunk at the time, saying the attack would require skill and co-ordination and pointing out that both men were experienced tree surgeons.
She also rejected Graham's attempts to blame the attack on Carruthers, saying both men were 'equally culpable'. 'Although there may be grains of truth, I do not accept they are wholly honest or the whole story,' the judge said. 'I'm confident a major factor was sheer bravado.' She also accused the pair of revelling 'in their notoriety' in the aftermath of the felling.
Release and conditions
Carruthers was released from prison after serving just 10 months of his sentence in March of this year under the Home Detention Curfew Scheme following a risk assessment. Mrs Justice Lambert initially told him and Graham they would serve 40% of the sentence in jail, with the remainder to be served on licence in the community.
Carruthers now has to wear an electronic tag, plus follow a curfew and licence conditions. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson previously told Metro: 'Anyone released into Home Detention Curfew faces strict licence conditions and must be tagged. Those who break the rules can be returned to prison.'
