121. The Big Tree

To mark the one-year anniversary of the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, here’s an adored landmark sycamore in the far north.

Fertile but windswept Orkney’s most celebrated tree is an elderly, hollow sycamore that stands proudly, aided by an internal steel prop, opposite the Bank of Scotland in the middle of Albert Street. Latitude, weather and its town-centre position have conspired to ensure The Big Tree has remained relatively small, despite its popular name. 

Species details

Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus

Where to find it

Albert Street, Kirkwall KW15 1HJ
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The Sycamore Gap tree, and a selection of other sycamores

71. Sycamore Gap RIP

117. Beauly Sycamore

56. Sessions House Sycamore

Podcast

I spoke about the Sycamore Gap tree earlier this week in ‘The Brief’, a podcast recorded for Open City.