Three years after Britain's famous Sycamore Gap tree was illegally cut down, new aerial images show the tree stump producing a healthy growth of new shoots.
The approximately 150-year-old sycamore, which stood in a natural gap along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, was felled by vandals in 2023.
The tree was one of England's most photographed trees and had become a much-loved symbol of the North.
The clean chainsaw cut left arborists hopeful that the tree's established root system could support new growth.
That hope appears to be paying off, with the stump now surrounded by a thick ring of basal shoots measuring between two and three feet in height.
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust at Hadrian's Wall, says the growth is an encouraging sign that efforts to protect the tree are working.
“These flourishing shoots are really encouraging and show that the special measures we’ve taken—including reducing soil compaction around the roots and limiting human disturbance—are paying off,” Poad said.
The National Trust has appealed to visitors to continue taking care around the tree to give it the best possible chance of recovering.
The Trust is also working with local communities and other partners to preserve the legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree.
As part of the initiative, 49 saplings grown from the original tree's seeds have been distributed to communities across the United Kingdom.
While the regrowth is still in its early stages, biologists estimate that the tree's extensive established root system could allow it to reach a substantial size again over the coming decades.
Hikers could potentially enjoy shade from its new branches within around 10 years, although returning to something approaching its former size could take up to 150 years.