Following the felling of the beloved Sycamore Gap tree, we dig into other famous trees cut down by humans
It was an act of vandalism that scandalised a nation. Britain’s iconic Sycamore Gap tree was cut down with a chainsaw in the early hours of 28th September 2023. The senselessness of the act was particularly poignant. There have been other famous trees cut down by humans, but there has usually been a reason: accident, protest, exploitation. In the case of the Sycamore Gap tree, it appears to be sheer malice.
Two men have been charged with criminal damage. One has pleaded not guilty while the other has entered no plea. The outcome remains to be seen.
To mark the passing of this iconic tree, here we dig into other famous trees cut down by humans – including the oldest known to man.
Famous trees cut down by humans
1. Sycamore Gap tree
Famous for: A picturesque setting and its appearance in Robin Hood
Location: UK
Cut down: 2023
The solitary Sycamore Gap tree stood in a dip next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park. It was planted in the late 1800s by previous landowner John Clayton and grew to become one of the most iconic sights of the British countryside.
The tree appeared in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner and was subsequently nicknamed the Robin Hood Tree.
In 2016, it was named English Tree of the Year in the Woodland Trust awards, and of course featured in our own list of the best trees in Britain.
There is a chance that the tree may regrow from the stump, but it will take experts up to three years to determine if this is possible and it could take up to 200 years for the tree to grow back to what it was.
2. The Senator
Famous for: It was the world’s oldest cypress tree
Location: USA
Cut down: 2012
The Senator in Florida’s Big Tree Park was named after State Senator Moses Overstreet who donated the tree and surrounding land to Seminole County for a park in 1927.
The tree was approximately 3,500 years old, making it the world’s oldest cypress tree and one of the oldest overall. Sadly, in 2012, The Senator burned down from the inside out. Firefighters tried to control the blaze, but the tree collapsed.
Anthony Scotti/CC BY-SA 3.0; Maily Nguyen/Shutterstock
The Senator pictured in 2011 versus 2019
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