New study reveals secrets of felled Sycamore Gap tree

• Researchers have determined the Sycamore Gap tree, illegally felled in 2023, was between 100 and 120 years old when it was cut down.
• The analysis, conducted by Historic England and the National Trust, involved counting the growth rings from a cross-section of the tree.
• The study also revealed that the iconic tree, located next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, had originally comprised two trunks that fused together after approximately 30 years.
• Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were jailed for four years and three months each for felling the tree with a chainsaw in what was described as a "moronic mission".
• Despite the "devastating" act of vandalism, the felling provided a unique opportunity for researchers to answer long-standing questions about the tree's age and history.

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Age mystery of felled Sycamore Gap tree finally solved