London (CNN) – A famous tree that has guarded Britain’s Hadrian’s Wall for more than 200 years has been “deliberately cut down” in what authorities have described as an “act of vandalism”.
The sycamore tree, located in Northumberland National Park in northern England, became famous to millions of people around the world when it appeared in Kevin Costner’s 1991 hit film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.”
Police said they arrested a 16-year-old boy and a man in his 60s after the incident on Thursday evening.
The tree, at a site known as Sycamore Gap, was located on Hadrian’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built around 1,900 years ago to protect the far northwestern border of the Roman Empire.
The Sycamore Gap is one of the most photographed trees in England, and was recognised as the English Tree of the Year in 2016.
The National Trust, which runs the site, said it was “shocked and saddened” by the tree being cut down.
“The tree has been an important and iconic feature of the landscape for nearly 200 years and means a lot to the local community and anyone who has visited the site,” said Andrew Budd, chief executive of the North East National Trust.
Northumberland National Park Authority said it was now “working with relevant agencies and partners interested in this iconic landmark in the North East”.
The national park urged visitors to stay away while security was restored at the site.
Police, who earlier said they were investigating what they believed was a “deliberate act of vandalism”, said a 16-year-old boy had been arrested in connection with the incident.
“He remains in police custody at this time and is assisting officers with their enquiries,” Northumbria Police said in a statement, adding that “the investigation is still at a very early stage.”
The man, in his 60s, was later arrested. “We hope this second arrest shows how seriously we are taking this situation and our commitment to finding those responsible and bringing them to justice,” police said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Before the arrests, police described the tree as a “world-famous landmark.”
A statement from Northumbria Police said: “The vandalism has caused understandable shock and anger across the local community and beyond.”
“This is a very sad day,” Superintendent Kevin Waring added. “The tree was a symbol of the North East and was enjoyed by many who lived in or visited the area.”
“Anyone responsible for this damage, which we believe was a deliberate act of sabotage, can expect swift and appropriate punishment,” he added.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with new information.
“Thinker. Professional twitter fanatic. Certified introvert. Troublemaker. Unapologetic zombie maven.”