The first living legacies of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree have been put into the earth, as a major planting initiative gets underway during National Tree Week. This powerful act of regeneration follows the deliberate felling of the beloved tree in September 2023, an event that provoked national anger and a significant police investigation.
A New Generation Takes Root
On Saturday, the initial five saplings were planted, with more than half of the 49 'trees of hope' scheduled to be placed in the ground throughout the week. This specific number was chosen to honour the sycamore's height in feet at the time it was cut down. These young trees were cultivated from seeds and cuttings rescued from the original tree, which grew on National Trust land near Hadrian's Wall for over a century.
Nurtured to health at the National Trust's specialist plant conservation centre, the saplings now stand between four and six feet tall. The first locations to receive these symbolic trees include The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry, a project established by a trio of teenagers dedicated to rescuing urban trees.
Diverse Sites for a National Symbol
The planting sites were carefully selected for their symbolic and community value. On the same Saturday, saplings were also set to be planted at a memorial for the Minnie Pit mining disaster in Staffordshire and at Greenham Common in Berkshire, the former military base and protest camp that reopened to the public in 2000.
The distribution of these trees will continue over the coming days. Further saplings are destined for:
- The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds
- Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland
- Veterans in Crisis, a support charity in Sunderland
The National Trust revealed it received over 500 applications from groups hoping to host one of the 49 saplings, demonstrating the profound public connection to the original tree.
Justice and a Widespread Legacy
The planting ceremony arrives after the legal conclusion to the tree's destruction. Earlier this year, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were found guilty of the illegal felling and were sentenced to prison terms totalling more than four years.
The legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree is set to expand even further. An additional sapling was gifted to the King last summer and will be planted on behalf of the nation at a future date. Early next month, another will be planted at Henshaw Church of England Primary School, the school closest to the tree's original location.
Looking ahead to 2026, another 15 saplings will be planted in each of the UK's national parks, including one in Northumberland National Park, ensuring the spirit of the Sycamore Gap tree endures across the British landscape for generations to come.