Man to Face ‘No Further Action’ Over Sycamore Gap Tree Felling, Police Says

Northumbria police announced on Wednesday that one of the men arrested on suspicion of taking part to the Sycamore Gap Tree felling will face ‘no further action’ as the investigation continues.

The iconic tree, made famous worldwide by its appearance in Kevin Costner’s 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, was felled during the night between 27 and 28 September. It stood within Northumberland National Park, at a dramatic dip along Hadrian’s Wall.

While a teenager was initially arrested on suspicion of vandalism, he was soon cleared. Three people, described as a man in his sixties and two men in their thirties, were subsequently arrested and put on police bail. Now, Northumbria police has announced that the man in his sixties will face “no further action”. The other two remain suspects.

Ongoing investigation

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney-Menzies said, “I would like to reassure the public that our investigation continues, and we are committed to establishing the full circumstances surrounding the damage, and in bringing any offenders to justice. Sycamore gap is an iconic part of our region’s landscape and we know just how much outrage this incident has caused.

“As always, we continue to welcome any new information from members of the public that could help progress us the investigation. We would also like to remind people to avoid speculation and to take care with the information they share and post on social media as this could have repercussions for our investigation.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230928-0295.”

Recently, the National Trust announced that seeds and cuttings collected from the felled tree have shown “positive signs of life”. The stump of the Sycamore Gap Tree may also sprout new growth, but it may take up to three years to know if that will happen.