How beloved 18th Century Sycamore Gap tree was nearly destroyed in helicopter crash involving Alan Titchmarsh and almost chopped down in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
- The beloved tree, in Northumberland, was this morning found chopped down
Known to some as the ‘Robin Hood’ Tree, the 18th Century Sycamore Gap is one of the most photographed trees in the country.
The iconic tree was almost chopped down in Kevin Costner’s 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
But there was an outpouring of grief this morning as it was found the tree had actually been felled – allegedly on purpose. It had stood next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland.
The tree is said to have once stood alongside others but eventually became the only one left – making it especially photogenic.
In 2003, it was nearly destroyed when a helicopter that was filming a documentary series with Alan Titchmarsh crashed less than 100 feet away.
People look at the tree at Sycamore Gap, next to Hadrian’s Wall, in Northumberland which has come down overnight after being ‘deliberately felled’
The iconic tree, which was almost chopped down in Kevin Costner ‘s 1991 film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (pictured), stands next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland
The tree, which was also in the video for Bryan Adams’ hit song (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, is said to have once stood alongside others but eventually became the only one left – making it especially photogenic
In 2003, it was nearly destroyed when a helicopter that was filming a documentary series with Alan Titchmarsh crashed less than 100 feet away
The four onboard the aircraft were injured, but presenter Titchmarsh, who was standing on the ground, narrowly escaped harm. The crew had been filming for a docuseries called British Isles – A Natural History.
Titchmarsh said at the time: ‘I was pretty shaken and I was worried the copter was going to explode. The crew scrambled out and ran like hell.’
A witness added: ‘Alan Titchmarsh was very lucky not to be hit.
‘He was almost underneath the helicopter when it fell but jumped out of the way as it came down.
‘The aircraft landed on its side and everyone, including Alan, ran to help. Everyone was amazed the crew were not seriously hurt.’
The camera crew were filming practice runs for aerial shots when black smoke starting coming from the helicopter. Fuel began pouring from the engine after the aircraft smashed into the ground.
READ MORE: Heartbreak as famous Sycamore Gap tree is CUT DOWN in ‘malicious act of vandalism’ – as park bosses suspect 300-year-old landmark along Hadrian’s Wall was ‘deliberately felled’ overnight
And this morning, two decades after the near miss, the beloved tree was found to have been cut down ‘with a chainsaw’.
The tree, believed to be 300 years old, has featured in movies, documentaries and music videos because of its beauty.
In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the hero – played by Costner – is seen pulling leaves from the beloved tree as he walks under it with the warrior Azeem, who is played by Morgan Freeman.
In the scene, Azeem encounters a small boy being chased by Guy of Gisbourne – played by Michael Wincott. The boy is accused of poaching, Robin steps in to defend him and fighting ensues.
In a sad foreshadowing of the tree’s fate, Guy of Gisbourne orders the tree be chopped down.
Trying to coax the young boy from the tree, he says: ‘You’re not playing by the rules boy, deer don’t climb trees’.
He then asks ‘Want to teach him to fly?’ and tells one of his henchman to ‘get it [the tree] down’.
Freeman’s character walks up Hadrian’s Wall ahead of Costner’s in the Robin Hood film
Northumberland National Park Authority believe the tree was deliberately chopped down
In Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the hero – played by Costner – is seen pulling leaves from the tree as he walks under it with the warrior Azeem, who is played by Morgan Freeman
During the filming for a docuseries called British Isles – A Natural History, a helicopter crashed. The four onboard the aircraft were injured, but presenter Titchmarsh, who was standing on the ground, narrowly escaped harm
The Sycamore Gap, cut down last night, is pictured here in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner
The henchman swings an axe at the tree before Robin interrupts and asks: ‘I’m curious as to what man or creature is so fearsome that I takes six men to attack it.’
When asked to move along as it is ‘the sheriff’s land’, Robin replies: ‘Wrong, this is my land and my tree, so whatever is in it also belongs to me’.
Robin pins the antagonist to the ground with a sword and orders him to get off the land. The scene is filmed a the foot of the tree, in the gap where it once stood.
It also appeared in the TV crime drama Vera – where detective chief inspector Vera Stanhope, played by Brenda Blethyn, cracks cases across the North East.
And it was featured in the documentary series More Tales from Northumberland with Robson Green – which sees the actor travel around his home county in the north of England.
Source: Read Full Article
