The famous tree next to Hadrian’s Wall features in Kevin Costner’s 1991 blockbuster Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves
  • tal
    2•1 year ago

    General manager Andrew Poad said the sycamore had been “an important and iconic feature in the landscape for nearly 200 years”.

    Well, Robin Hood was supposed to have been running around in the 12th century, so I suppose it was a bit ahistorical in the context of the guy anyway.

    Maybe have the little lumberjack go up and try his hand at being an arborist and plant some new sycamores along the wall for future generations.

    EDIT: If they move quickly on it, I imagine that they could probably use cuttings from the existing tree.

    EDIT2: Yup, apparently it works with cuttings:

    https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/lppi/sp012.shtml

    Acer pseudoplatanus

    Primary method of propagation: seed
    Alternate propagation method(s): cutting, grafting/budding

    • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝OPEnglish
      6•1 year ago

      Well, Robin Hood was supposed to have been running around in the 12th century, so I suppose it was a bit ahistorical in the context of the guy anyway.

      I think it’s called the Robin Hood Tree because it was in a Robin Hood film.

      If they move quickly on it, I imagine that they could probably use cuttings from the existing tree

      That’d be a nice touch, from one tree dozens could spring up. Seems fitting.

      • tal
        1•1 year ago

        I think it’s called the Robin Hood Tree because it was in a Robin Hood film.

        Yeah, but the movie was presumably filmed there because they were looking for something that didn’t have houses or whatnot in view, looked like it did during the time of Richard Lionheart.

          • tal
            -1•1 year ago

            I mean, that’s probably part of it too, but I also feel like they wouldn’t have filmed the scene at Canary Wharf.

            Honestly, given that Robin Hood’s home was Sherwood Forest, Sycamore Gap is about…checks Google Maps…about 172 miles by (modern day) road out of the way, too.

            EDIT: Hmm. Apparently, Acer pseudoplatanus also didn’t grow in Britain at the time Robin Hood was supposed to be running around, either – it was introduced from central Europe, probably significantly later:

            https://gabrielhemery.com/native-trees-of-britain/

            Some trees introduced a long time ago to Britain are now considered ‘naturalised’. There is a specific term for species present since 1500; an ‘archaeophyte’. Such species include beech (native only to south-eastern Britain), horse chestnut, sweet chestnut, sycamore and walnut.

            https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/trees-and-shrubs/sycamore

            It was introduced into the UK from Europe sometime in the 15th or 16th century, and has become naturalised since, as well as being widely planted.