The first symbolic saplings grown from the legendary Sycamore Gap tree, which was illegally cut down in 2023, are being planted across the country this week, marking a poignant moment of regrowth and national reflection.
A Legacy Reborn: From Felled Giant to 49 Saplings
In an act of botanical resurrection, the magnificent sycamore that stood for over a century beside Hadrian's Wall has given life to 49 new saplings. These young trees, nurtured from seeds and cuttings rescued from the felled giant, are now being planted to coincide with National Tree Week. The first five were put into the ground today.
The original tree, a beloved national landmark, was deliberately cut down overnight in September 2023, sparking worldwide outrage. The two men responsible for the vandalism, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, were found guilty and sentenced to more than four years in prison in May of this year. The number of saplings, 49, is deeply symbolic, representing the tree's height in feet when it was destroyed.
Nurturing Hope: The Journey to New Roots
The National Trust, which cares for the land where the historic tree grew, led the conservation effort. Their team acted swiftly after the felling to collect genetic material, and the saplings have been carefully nurtured at the charity's specialist plant conservation centre.
These 'trees of hope', which now stand between four and six feet tall, are being distributed to communities that embody themes of resilience and remembrance. The first planting locations include:
- The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry, a project established by teenagers to rescue urban trees.
- A site commemorating the Minnie Pit mining disaster in Staffordshire.
- Greenham Common in Berkshire, a former military base and protest camp.
Later this week, saplings will also be planted at The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland, and at the veterans' charity Veterans in Crisis in Sunderland.
National Outpouring and a Royal Sapling
The demand to host a piece of this living legacy was immense, with the National Trust receiving more than 500 applications for the 49 saplings. Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust's Hadrian's Wall properties, expressed his amazement at the project's success, stating the team is "confident they'll be able to withstand a range of conditions" due to the hardy nature of sycamores.
In a fitting tribute, the very first sapling has been gifted to King Charles III and will be planted on behalf of the nation at a later date. Furthermore, early next month, a sapling will be given to Henshaw Church of England Primary School, the school closest to the original site. Looking ahead to early 2026, another 15 saplings will be planted in each of the UK's national parks, including one in Northumberland, ensuring the spirit of the Sycamore Gap tree endures from coast to coast.
