The sad felling of the famous Sycamore Gap tree in an apparently senseless act of vandalism has sparked a wave of grief and outrage across the country. The tree was a landmark of Hadrian’s Wall that had stood for over two centuries, and even starred in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner. 

The tree was seen by many as a symbol of hope and resistance, growing and thriving in harsh conditions and somehow surviving human interference—until now. For some, the tree had a sacred quality, and it drew visitors, photographers and artists from across the country and beyond. 

Andrew Poad, the trust’s general manager for Hadrian’s Wall and Tyne Valley, said: “The tree has been an important and iconic feature in the landscape for nearly 200 years and means a lot to the local community and to anyone who has visited the site.”

The sycamore tree is not native to the UK, but was colonised from Europe at some point during the 15th or 16th century. They can continue to grow for up to 600 years and can reach heights of up to 130 ft tall. It’s a hardy species that will grow in tough climates, and can be found in towns, parks, and lining streets to provide screening and shelter.

The sycamore tree is also often found in churchyards and has become a symbol of the Christian faith. The stature and abundant canopy of the tree have come to be seen as a symbol of strength, protection, steadfastness, and generosity. 

There is also a biblical story of Zacchaeus the corrupt tax collector, who climbed a sycamore tree in order to get a better view of Jesus when he came to visit Jericho. Instead of excluding the disliked man from his attention, Jesus stopped and talked to him, showing love and forgiveness. Zacchaues then repented his former ways. 

The sycamore tree plays a part in the symbolism of the story, because in the Middle East it produced a fig-like fruit that was bitter to the taste when unripe, yet also spoiled with insect infestation when left to ripen. The fruit was pierced to make it ripen quicker and enable it to be harvested before the insects attacked it. 

Therefore some Biblical scholars see the story of Zacchaeus sitting in the sycamore tree next to the bitter figs as an allegory of Jesus’s teaching. A bitter fruit such as Zacchaeus would spoil if left alone, but his heart was pierced by Jesus and he was then able to offer bountifulness to his fellow people instead of causing pain. 

There is hope that the sad loss of the Sycamore Gap tree can be mitigated by planting new shoots that are growing at the base of the trunk. The timber of the tree may be put to good use, as it is exceptionally high quality and is sought after by woodcarvers to make furniture and decorative items including Welsh love spoons.