Age mystery of felled Sycamore Gap tree finally solved
New study reveals secrets of felled Sycamore Gap tree
- Researchers have determined the Sycamore Gap tree, illegally felled in 2023, was between 100 and 120 years old when it was cut down.
- The analysis, conducted by Historic England and the National Trust, involved counting the growth rings from a cross-section of the tree.
- The study also revealed that the iconic tree, located next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, had originally comprised two trunks that fused together after approximately 30 years.
- Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were jailed for four years and three months each for felling the tree with a chainsaw in what was described as a "moronic mission".
- Despite the "devastating" act of vandalism, the felling provided a unique opportunity for researchers to answer long-standing questions about the tree's age and history.