‘Trees of hope’ from the felled Sycamore Gap tree will be planted across the UK at publicly accessible spaces including a prison and a children’s hospital.
As part of National Tree Week, the National Trust has revealed the destination of saplings grown from its seed, with the charity receiving almost 500 applications.
The 49 saplings represent each foot in height the tree was when it was felled.
It is hoped the saplings, which are currently being nursed by the charity’s Plant Conservation Centre, should be healthy enough to plant in winter at the end of next year.
The charity has asserted the importance of the saplings being located in publicly accessible spaces, with recipients including The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, Holly’s Hope in conjunction with Hexham Abbey in Northumberland, and The Tree Sanctuary and Tree Amigos in Coventry.
Each chosen destination relates to people’s emotional connections with the Sycamore Gap tree, which was felled as an act of vandalism in September 2023.
Applications were judged by a panel of experts from the National Trust led by independent judge and arboriculture specialist, Catherine Nuttgens.
Catherine described the illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree as “utterly senseless” but that the new initiative keeps alive the “sense of joy and hope.”
“The loss of any tree can evoke strong emotions – none more so than the Sycamore Gap tree. Its destruction felt utterly senseless, destroying the simple joy it brought to so many people for so many reasons. But the ‘Trees of Hope initiative has kept that sense of joy and hope alive, and it has been truly humbling to read through so many applications but a difficult task to select the final 49 recipients.
“The Sycamore is one of the most architecturally beautiful trees in our landscape. In summer, their dark green leaves create a canopy that looks almost like broccoli, while in winter, they create a silhouette that perfectly depicts what we think of when we think of a tree,” she said.
Each location is unique in its own way.
The charity says the sapling locations represent feelings of “loss, hope and regeneration from towns, schools, colleges, community groups, hospitals and hospices,” with the judging panel describing it as a “privilege” to read each application.
A rural Category C prison, a motor neurone disease centre opening in the name of late rugby league star Rob Burrow and Alder Hey hospital are just some of the recipients.
Henshaw Church of England Primary School as the closest school to the Sycamore Gap Tree, ‘Tina’s Haven’ in East Durham, ‘Fergus’s Tree’ in south Bristol along with all 15 UK National Parks will also receive a sapling.
You can learn more about the fantastic ‘Trees of Hope’ journey on the National Trust’s website.