What Is Your Sycamore Gap? The Value of Our Personal Connections to Nature

Many of us were recently moved and saddened by the felling of the sycamore tree at Sycamore Gap. It ignited crucial discussions about the protection of nature, the rights of trees to thrive and be safeguarded, and people's personal connections to places they consider sacred or symbolic. This incident, and people’s reactions to it, struck a chord with me at the time, but following an experience I had this week, I feel I want to revisit it.

On Monday, when I popped home at lunchtime I found the two ash trees behind my house being cut down. It was without warning or notice, and so while I would have normally piped up at some point during the process, it was a personally jarring and emotional moment, as most of the trees had already been felled by the time I arrived. I couldn't help but feel a surge of shock, anger, and profound sadness wash over me.

I watched from the window for a few minutes before walking down the garden to inquire about why the trees had been cut down. The workers weren't entirely sure, not even aware of who had applied for the trees to be cut down or the reasons behind it. I wondered if it might have been a preemptive measure due to concerns about ash dieback, but they responded that these trees were healthy, showing no signs of the disease.

It was too late, nothing I could really do but sit with my feelings about it, and it reminded me of something many of us felt earlier in the year with Sycamore Gap, where a tree's sudden felling touched the hearts of many, prompting a wave of emotions ranging from sadness to anger. This event involved the deliberate felling of a beloved sycamore tree, known for its picturesque location in a natural dip along Hadrian's Wall, near the village of Once Brewed. The tree, originally planted in the late 1800s by landowner John Clayton, had gained fame for its appearance in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," earning it the nickname the "Robin Hood Tree."

On the morning of September 28, 2023, news spread that the tree had been chopped down overnight, sparking shock and outrage. An investigation was launched, and several arrests were made in connection with the incident. The destruction of this iconic tree served as a powerful reminder of the deep emotional connections people form with nature.

The incident at Sycamore Gap also sparked conversations about how deeply we can feel the loss of a single tree, even though we often fail to muster the same collective sentiment when entire ancient forests are razed for projects like the HS2 railway route. Some argue that while the destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree felt needless and pointless, the HS2 project was justified as “progress”, reflecting far too dominant view that primarily considers matters from an anthropocentric and economic perspective, overlooking ecological concerns and the value of non-human life. However, given the recent cancellation of the HS2 project, it becomes evident that such destruction was also ultimately futile.

What is your Sycamore Gap?

I began asking people in various talks and events, this Autumn, to share their own "Sycamore Gap" – the places that hold such significance for them that they would be devastated if they were destroyed or removed. When I posed this question, many responded with stories and memories of the time they spent in those places, whether as children or during challenging periods in their lives. These responses emphasised the profound connection and relationship we share with certain places and how these natural spaces can hold immense importance in our lives.

During these discussions, my thoughts frequently drifted back to a tree that stood just around the corner from my childhood home – an old oak, weathered and gnarled. It featured a tiny hole at its base, so small that only your imagination could venture inside. Yet, if you climbed it, you could just barely see down to the light peeking through at the bottom. When I began my spiritual journey, exploring shamanic practices and guided visualisations, this tree often appeared in my mind's eye. I knew the sensation of climbing it, the feeling of peering into that small hollow at its base, making it an ideal gateway for my spiritual journeys. This tree, I often thought, was my personal Sycamore Gap.

However, the recent incident of the ash trees being cut down in my own garden serves as a stark reminder of the multitude of relationships I hold with different places – places that are special to me, intertwined with my story and experience, and place that evoke feelings of grief and anger at their destruction and desecration. Those ash trees, reaching over the back fence of my garden were my meditation spot, where I would sit and gaze up at the leaves, observing their dance and sway in the wind, where I witnessed the changing of seasons from tight black buds to lush green leaves, to the falling helicopter seeds. It was a place that held me during meditations, offering a view of the sky through its leafy canopy as the clouds drifted by.

This experience underscores the reality that there are countless "Sycamore Gaps" in the lives of individuals, places that hold unique significance, cherished memories, and sacredness. These places deserve protection.

In the context of Wild Service, a vital component of the Spiritual Rewilding course, as we learn to establish deep connections with places, we explore how we can serve these places that hold immense meaning for us. This service becomes our way of reciprocating for the connections, healing, wisdom, and understanding that these places offer us. Unfortunately, we live in a society where the destruction of nature occurs daily, often without consideration for the intricate relationships that trees and other beings have with the broader ecosystem, and the unique relationships they share with us.

I wonder if by discussing these places that hold profound meaning in our lives, by talking about "our Sycamore Gaps," we might reignite a broader sense of connection and relationship with places for people. These discussions could potentially lead to a revival of the reverence and care for the natural world that is so desperately needed in our times.

Tell us about your Sycamore Gap

I would love to hear from you about your own 'Sycamore Gap' – those special places that hold a deep significance in your life. Whether it's a serene forest, a hidden beach, a beloved park, or a solitary tree, I invite you to share your stories and connections with these places, what makes it meaningful to you, and the memories and experiences you've had there.

Please send your stories and photos here

Please let us know if you would are happy for us to share these stories, and feel free to include a photo that captures the essence of your special place. Your stories and images serve as a testament to the importance of our connections with nature and can inspire others to cherish and protect the natural world. We look forward to hearing from you and celebrating the beauty of these cherished places together.