Sycamore Gap Tree felling mystery takes another turn as police make more arrests

Two men in their 30s have been arrested and bailed by officers investigating the felling of the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree, police have confirmed.

The tree in Northumberland, believed to have been about 300 years old, was cut down overnight between September 27 and 28 in what police believe was a deliberate act of vandalism.

The two men, both in their 30s, have since been released on police bail. Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney-Menzies, of Northumbria Police, said: “The loss of Sycamore Gap has been felt deeply across the community as well as further afield.

“As a force, we have seen many touching tributes from those who have detailed what this iconic landmark meant for them personally and for our region.

“We’ve been working tirelessly to identify anyone responsible and bring them into police custody and we are committed to getting justice. I hope this recent wave of arrests demonstrates just how much work has been undertaken by our dedicated specialist teams in what has, so far, been a very difficult and complex investigation."

Three theories behind what could have made historic Sycamore Gap tree fall

Last month, National Trust bosses produced a 3D scan of the famous tree with a view to producing an exact replica. They have taken their inspiration from the historic site of Palmyra in Syria. Destroyed in an Isis attack in 2015, visitors' images were used to recreate some of the key parts of the ancient city. Then a 3D-printed replica of the Triumphal Arch of the 2nd Century BC Temple of Bel, which had been reduced to rubble, was displayed in Trafalgar Square.

The replica of the 50ft tree could be made following consultation with the public, heritage groups and experts. The National Trust will also consider the idea of giving parts of its trunk - it is likely to take around two years to 'season' - to artists, craftspeople and even schoolchildren to produce displays for a Sycamore Gap 'exhibition'.

Photographs captured the heartbreaking moment the Sycamore Gap was removed by a crane on October 12, days after it was felled. Workers used chainsaws to remove branches from it as they prepared to move the landmark tree.