Sycamore Gap stump shows ring of shoots three years after felling
The National Trust fenced off the Sycamore Gap stump after the tree was felled on 28 September 2023, to see if it would recover. Three years later, a thick ring of shoots is growing around it, and the Trust says it is monitoring the tree and working to give it the best chance to thrive.
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BBC UK reports two distinct efforts following the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree: encouraging growth at the original site and preserving its legacy elsewhere. The National Trust fenced off the stump after it was cut down on 28 September 2023 to see if it would recover. Three years later, a thick ring of shoots is growing around it. The Trust says it has reduced soil compaction around the roots and limited human disturbance, and is monitoring the tree. Its rangers will manage it over time according to how it develops.
The separate legacy effort began with seedlings kept at a National Trust centre. Saplings were later donated to community groups and charities around the country, and art projects were launched. These initiatives accompany, but are distinct from, the monitoring and care of the original stump.
Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were jailed for four years and three months in July 2025 for criminal damage to the tree and Roman wall.
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