In pictures: The famous Sycamore Gap tree

The lone tree at Northumberland’s Sycamore Gap was one of the most photographed in the country before it was deliberately cut down this week.

It had been an iconic symbol of the area, standing tall for around 300 years in a natural dip in the landscape alongside Hadrian’s Wall.

The tree was not just a beloved landmark, but held a special place in the hearts of many and decorated memorial pebbles were often left at the site.

Northumberland National Park Authority officials believe the tree was “deliberately felled”. A teenager and a man in his 60s were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and later bailed. Northumbria Police say the investigation remains ongoing.

Kris Hodgetts, a photographer from Blyth in Northumberland, told the BBC he thought it was a hoax at first. “We haven’t just lost another tree but a symbol of something natural in its perfect form which can’t be replaced by a statue or a memorial.”

Mr Hodgetts took the two photographs below during a night visit to Sycamore Gap in 2019.

The beloved landmark was named Tree of the Year in 2016 and was hugely popular with photographers.

Experts say there is a chance shoots could grow from the stump as the tree had been healthy, although it will be decades at least until it is a visible presence on the landscape again.