NORTHUMBERLAND, ENGLAND: Daniel Newman, who played Wulf in the 1991 blockbuster 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves', when he was 15, has expressed his sadness over the felling of an iconic 300-year-old Sycamore Gap.
The tree, which was featured in the movie as a hiding place for Newman’s character, was chopped down by vandals between 27 September night and 28 September morning as per reports.
How did Daniel Newman react to the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland?
Newman, now 47 and a personal trainer in Wimbledon, as per Daily Mail, said he had fond memories of filming in Northumberland with Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman.
He said the tree, with its surrounding hills and wall, was a "perfect composition" and called it "beautiful and perfect."
He also referred to the tree as "an ancient beauty" that attracted visitors from all over the world.
Newman added, "It was very sad to hear that the tree had been felled. I think people chose that location for the filming very well. Right across the UK there will be people who were really in love with that movie.
He added, "So not just in the north but all over the country people will be so sad that it has gone."
Daniel Newman recalled filming the scene as a child actor in Robin Hood
He added, "I fondly remember filming Robin Hood there. It was the first day of filming of what would be a magical experience that shaped my life for a long time."
He claimed, "The movie and the place will always be iconic."
The chief executive of Northumberland National Park, Tony Gates, said it was "part of England's identity" as it had been "a real inspiration" to artists, writers and photographers, as per BBC.
"A lot of people have a deep connection to this place, and fond memories of this place, and to have lost that is a real shame," he said.
He added he hoped it would not affect tourism "too much" as Northumberland had "many other beautiful things to see."
"We're hoping people will continue to come here, and we will look to the future and how we can continue to make this a special place for people," he said.
Why is the loss of the Sycamore Gap tree tragic and who is behind its felling?
The sycamore, which was planted in the early 1700s, stood next to Hadrian’s Wall, a Unesco World Heritage site and was named 'Tree of the Year' by the Woodland Trust in 2016, the report mentioned.
It was nicknamed 'Robin Hood’s Tree' because it was the most memorable location in the movie and was since most photographed tree in North England.
Northumbria police said that a 16-year-old boy who was arrested on Thursday as a suspect for the felling was released on bail pending further inquiries.
The investigation into who toppled the tree is continuing. "This is a heartbreaking act of mindless vandalism of a much loved, famous landmark in the North East," Mary Foy, Labour MP for Durham said, "A very sad day which will upset so many people around the country – and across the world."
The Northumberland National Park spokesman has said the tree was "deliberately felled."
Can the famous Robin Tree regrow?
The landmark Sycamore Gap tree can regrow shoots, according to experts cited by BBC.
Andrew Poad, a National Trust manager, reportedly said that the stump was "healthy" and they might be able to coppice the tree, allowing new shoots to grow from the base of the drunk
Rob Ternent, a head gardener, told the station that the tree would start growing again but it "won't ever be the same shape or as good of a tree as it was." He added, "It'll be very difficult to get it back to the original tree," he said.
He explained, "The growing season's coming to an end now but by spring next year it will have some life in it. It'll probably be about 8ft tall, but it'll be lots of singular branches, more bushy."
