Centuries-old “Robin Hood tree” destroyed in Great Britain

A 16-year-old boy has been detained in the UK for allegedly cutting down a centuries-old white maple tree known as the Robin Hood tree.

The Robin Hood Tree has been growing in Northumberland National Park for several hundred years. It was one of the most photographed trees in Britain. On the night of September 27-28, the plane tree collapsed. The park administration, as well as the police, found reason to believe that the tree was cut down deliberately. The reasons for this atrocity are still unknown.

This tree attracted many tourists and was an object of care and reverence among the local residents of Hexham, in the north of England. From the photo of the fallen maple it is clear that the tree was cut down and did not fall on its own or, for example, due to the storm wind that had occurred in the region the day before.

The ancient maple grew in the town of Sycamore Gap and became famous after the release of the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” starring Kevin Costner.

According to legend, Robin Hood's hut was located in one of the oak trees in Sherwood Forest, but the director decided to use this particular plane tree for location filming. In the film, the main character's lair was located inside the maple tree.

In 2016, the Robin Hood Tree was voted Tree of the Year in England by the woodland conservation charity The Woodland Trust.

Memorial stones with inscriptions were left near the tree, the ashes of dear people were scattered, proposals were made, and family picnics were held. In the words of the mayor of the three counties north of the Tyne, James Driscoll, “it was part of our collective soul.”

Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of destroying the famous tree. The teenager is now in custody and is assisting officers with their investigation, police said. Police suspect the destruction of the tree was a deliberate act of vandalism. They, like the park rangers who arrived at the felled maple, believe that “the tree was skillfully cut with a chainsaw by a man who knew what he was doing.” At the same time, the police urge not to draw premature conclusions: the investigation has just begun.