Researchers reveal age of Sycamore Gap tree

SYCAMORE Gap was around 100 to 120 years old when it was felled, new research from Historic England has found.

- 

The illegal felling in the early hours of September 28, 2023, sent shockwaves far beyond the North East with media from around the world covering the act, which has since been described in court as “moronic”.

The dendrochronological (tree-ring counting) investigation by Historic England’s national Investigative Science team was carried out after the tree was cut down.

The investigation was the first research into the age of the tree to have scientifically analysed a sample of the tree itself.