Sycamore Gap Stump Sees 'Encouraging' Growth of Shoots

The most famous stump in Britain is looking surprisingly vibrant. The remains of the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian's Wall, cut down illegally in 2023, are now ringed by a thick halo of new growth, reports the London Times. "These flourishing shoots are really encouraging and show the special measures we've taken, including reducing soil compaction around the roots and limiting human disturbance, are paying off," says Andre Poad of the National Trust. See images here.

The tree is living on in other ways as well. Seedlings taken after the felling were saved, and the resulting saplings have been distributed to community groups and charities, part of a wider project meant to keep the beloved Northumberland landmark's legacy alive, per the BBC. Two UK men in their 30s received jail terms of more than four years in 2025 for cutting down the tree as an apparent stunt.