71. Sycamore Gap RIP
71. Sycamore Gap RIP
The vandalistic felling of a much loved sycamore on Hadrian’s Wall has resulted in an outpouring of condemnation.
Until its tragic and thoughtless felling earlier this week, one of the most photographed trees in England, Sycamore Gap often appeared as a remote sentinel along Hadrian’s Wall on the northern edge of a wild moorland landscape. This is partly true, but handily, the tree’s location was nonetheless very accessible – too accessible perhaps. It was visible from the B6138, or could be reached on foot via a short hike from Northumberland National Park’s visitor centre, The Sill.
It is important that a ring-count is made of the felled tree so its true age can be recorded and published. In its exposed, upland location, it was likely slow-growing, so it may have been older than many thought. This information should be taken into account when the culprits are charged and reflected in their punishment.
Previously, I have suggested we rethink our relationship with the great sycamore maple, a species that is often maligned because of its perceived lack of biodiversity value (something that has proven to be a myth), it’s propensity to seed itself freely causing gardeners to curse its fecundity, and for being ‘non-native’. This last point is the one I find most dispiriting. It is unclear when sycamores were introduced into these islands from the near continent, but they have been here for a very long time, and they have become a key component of our flora. It is true that they do not occur in ancient managed woodlands, but they do otherwise act like a native species and may be one of the saviours of our landscapes as other species, like ash, succumb to pathogens as our elms did within living memory.
Species details
Sycamore
Acer pseudoplatanus
Where to find it
The Sill, Once Brewed, Hexham NE47 7AN
///lunging.uplifting.icon | 55.003598, -2.373895
Other sycamores
Thankfully, there are other striking sycamores throughout these islands, here are a few I have posted previously. I'm sorry to report the Survivor Sycamore in Plymouth blew over in bad weather soon after I posted about that tree back in March.
Of all the crap things that are happening to nature, this has hit home more than anything else recently. I lived on Tyneside for 15 years and walked parts of Hadrian's Wall regularly and had the pleasure of meeting this tree about half a dozen times and was hoping to do so again. I can't get my head around why someone would deliberately do this but they have and it hurts.
I like sycamores, they were one of the first trees my parents told me about when I was a child (along with horse chestnut and beech). To see spinng jennies helicoptering to the ground in autumn is still a joyful thing.
This is such sad news, it’s a gut punch in a week of gut punches (rose bank)