Police have arrested a further two people as part of their investigation into the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree at Hadrian’s Wall.
Two men in their 30s were arrested on Tuesday and have since been released on bail, Northumbria Police confirmed today.
The tree in Northumberland, believed to have been about 300 years old, was cut down overnight between September 27 and 28 in what police believe was a deliberate act of vandalism.
A 16-year-old boy and a man in his 60s who have already been arrested in connection with the incident remain on bail.
The sycamore, which stood in a dramatic dip on Hadrian’s Wall, became known across the world after its appearance in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney-Menzies, of Northumbria Police, said: ‘The loss of Sycamore Gap has been felt deeply across the community as well as further afield.
The tree was felled overnight on September 27 and is thought to have been more than 300 years old
There is hope the tree might grow back, and its stump is being left in place
The sycamore, which stood in a dip along Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland for 300 years, was one of the world’s most photographed trees – but it has now been reduced to a stump
‘As a force, we have seen many touching tributes from those who have detailed what this iconic landmark meant for them personally and for our region.
‘We’ve been working tirelessly to identify anyone responsible and bring them into police custody and we are committed to getting justice.
‘I hope this recent wave of arrests demonstrates just how much work has been undertaken by our dedicated specialist teams in what has, so far, been a very difficult and complex investigation.’
Det Ch Insp Fenney-Menzies added: ‘As always, we would continue to encourage any members of the public with information which may assist to get in touch – if you’ve seen or heard anything suspicious, we’d like to know.
‘I’d also like to remind the public that this remains a live investigation so, for that reason, please avoid any speculation both in the community and on social media.
‘Any information – no matter how small or insignificant you think it may be – could prove absolutely crucial to our enquiries.’
The 50ft tree was looked after by the Northumberland National Park Authority and the National Trust. It is currently being kept in a storage centre.
For the time being the stump is being kept in place and is behind a protective barrier because it could generate new shoots. Plans will be made to keep grazing sheep off the stump, allowing any shoots which emerge to grow.
The much-photographed and painted lone sycamore, an emblem for the north east of England, was situated in a dramatic dip in the Northumberland landscape before it was felled overnight on September 27.
The tree was thought to have been planted by Newcastle philanthropist and lawyer John Clayton.
Mr Clayton was a keen excavator of Hadrian’s Wall and was thought to have planted the tree to fill the dip on landscape which was created by glacial meltwater.
The tree was one of the most iconic photo hotspots in the UK
The tree is too big to move in one piece, so it has been cut up – but experts want to keep the trunk in large sections while they decide what to do with it in the future
Workers stand near a log, as sections of the Sycamore Gap tree, that was felled by a vandal last month, are removed from the area by crane
Workmen with machinery prepare to remove the trunk of The Sycamore Gap tree
A workman guides the crane driver as they work to move the felled tree which was cut down weeks ago
A workman’s chainsaw rests on the stump of The Sycamore Gap tree which was felled in an act of vandalism in September
Speaking after the latest arrests, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuiness said: ‘Like many people I still can’t believe the Sycamore Gap tree is gone.
‘I know many people have been following progress with the investigation into the vandalism of our iconic tree and the destruction of this much loved landmark.’
The force added it is ‘committed to getting justice’.
In recent weeks the chopped down remnants of the tree have been removed from the site.
It is thought a memorial bench or other marker could be placed at the site of the tree to recognise its former location.
The Sycamore Gap was one of the most photographed places in the UK and has previously featured in blockbuster movies such as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Since it was felled, National Trust bosses have said the vandals actually prolonged its life.
Andrew Poad, the general manager of the Roman heritage site for the National Trust, said: ‘Effectively, what the perpetrator has done is coppice the tree. So ironically they have prolonged the life of the tree.’
He added that the tree will not look the same, but he is confident the stump will regrow, which is typical of sycamores.
The National Trust has received thousands of messages about the tree, with advice on what to do with the stump and suggestions of what could be done with the felled tree.
Mr Poad said: ‘We’ve been amazed and inspired by the offers of help and good wishes we’ve received from here in Northumberland, around the UK, and even from overseas.
‘It’s clear that this tree captured the imaginations of so many people who visited, and that it held a special – and often poignant – place in many people’s hearts.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230928-0295.