Sycamore Gap felling: Six months on

It is six months since the felling of Northumberland's iconic Sycamore Gap Tree.

The almost 200 year old tree was cut down in the night in an act of vandalism, also damaging the 2000 year old Hadrian's Wall landmark beside it.

The 2016 Tree of the Year became famous after it featured in the 1991 film; Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, and was the inspiration for many North East artists and writers, including mystery writer LJ Ross.

Hundreds of people turned up in the days after it was felled, to pay tribute and share how much the area meant to them,

Andrew Poad is the National Trust general manager for Hadrian's Wall;

"We can see ashes on the ground here - people are still bringing their relatives' ashes here,

"Hundreds if not thousands of people will have done that previously."

Well, first on the scene that day, half a year ago, was Rachel Ryvar - a gardens and parklands consultant with the National Trust and a horticulture expert.

Rachel helped take seeds and other materials from the sycamore that day - in the hopes of saving it;

"It was quite shocking and upsetting at first, and once it became clear it was a deliberate act and not just a storm event or a weather event,

"I realised 'Something has to be done here - we're going to have to propagate this and save it for the future."

And that quick thinking means there is still hope for the tree, with everything Rachel and the team saved sent to the National Trust headquarters, where they have been used to grow new saplings.

There is also hopes the original tree will regrow from the trunk - as the stump has been left in situ, with a wooden fence to keep livestock and tourists away.

However, it may take a few years before we see any signs of new life from the stump.

The main section of the felled tree trunk will be put on display at the Sill Centre in Northumberland by this September, just a 20 minute walk from the site, so that people will still be able to visit it if it holds important memories.

Sarah Pemberton is from the National Trust - and tells us the public have been a key part of the decisions on what to do next;

"The incredible amount of support we've had from the public in general,

"People have been so fantastically generous in sharing their memories, telling us what the site meant to them,

"To giving us ideas about what to do in the future and how we can commemorate the memory of the tree as well."

And Rachel tells - 6 months on - being part of the team working to save it means an enormous amount:

"Being here today has helped me realise I've played a part in hopefully saving this tree in some form

"And that's just a really wonderful thing to do with your time, with your life isn't it?

"And I think recognising the humongous impact it's had, not just locally, but nationally and internationally,

"To have played some small part in hopefully trying to conserve this important tree for everybody in the future - it really means a lot."

Two men in their thirties have been arrested by Northumbria police in connection with the vandalism, and have been released on bail.

The National Trust is asking people to treat the stump with respect if they visit it, to prevent any further damage.

Meanwhile, there have been suggestions some of the rest of the wood can be used by local schools, artists and community groups.

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