Sycamore Gap Tree’s Legacy Lives On: ‘Trees of Hope’ Planted Across the UK
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The felled Sycamore Gap tree, a beloved landmark on hadrian’s Wall, will be commemorated through the planting of 49 saplings – dubbed “trees of hope” – across the United Kingdom, beginning Saturday.The National Trust initiative aims to foster peace, and remembrance.
The Sycamore Gap tree, tragically and inexplicably felled in September 2023, sparked widespread outrage and grief. its loss resonated deeply across the UK and beyond, prompting a remarkable conservation effort. According to Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust, “the speedy thinking of our conservationists in the aftermath of the felling has allowed the Sycamore Gap to live on.”
From Seeds to Saplings: A Legacy Reborn
Seeds collected from the original tree have been cultivated into 49 saplings, each representing one foot of the tree’s approximate height – estimated to be around 49 feet when it was felled. The tree itself was likely planted in the late 19th century. The National Trust received nearly 500 applications from individuals and organizations hoping to receive one of these symbolic saplings, now ranging in height from four to six feet.
The first five saplings will be planted this Saturday, coinciding with National Tree Week, with many more to follow in publicly accessible spaces. These plantings are not merely horticultural gestures; they are intentional acts of remembrance and renewal, strategically placed to amplify messages of hope and healing.
Planting Hope in Historic Locations
One of the first saplings will be planted at Greenham Common in Berkshire, a site steeped in history as a former base for US cruise missiles. In the 1980s, the common became synonymous with women-led peace protests, attracting over 70,000 participants and representing the largest female-led exhibition since the women’s suffrage movement. Today, the former military control tower serves as a community center and museum.Helen Beard,of the Greener Greenham Common Group,described the sapling as “a powerful way to spread a message hope – for nature,our environment and for peace,” adding that it “will be seen by the many visitors using the control tower and we think they will be quite moved by it.”
Another sapling is destined for Strabane in County Tyrone,Northern Ireland,a town on the border with the Republic of Ireland that endured significant hardship during the Troubles. The planting is intended as a symbol of the town’s “collective journey towards healing” and will serve as a tribute to John Gallagher, a respected member of the Strabane community who recently passed away after battling motor neurone disease.
Commemorating Tragedy and Inspiring Resilience
Further plantings on Saturday will take place at the Minnie Pit mining disaster site in Staffordshire,a poignant reminder of the region’s industrial past; at the Tree Sanctuary in Coventry,where teenage volunteers are dedicated to urban reforestation; and at Coton Orchard in cambridgeshire,supporting the work of the grassroots “Coton Loves pollinators” project. The Coton tree will be planted by sir Partha Dasgupta, a leading economist renowned for his work on the economic value of nature.
additional saplings will be planted later in the week at the Rob Burrow Center for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds,Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland,and veterans in Crisis in sunderland,extending the tree’s legacy of hope to those facing significant challenges.
Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian’s Wall properties, expressed optimism about the future, stating, “It’s unbelievable to think that this weekend, the first ‘offspring’ of this very famous tree will be planted.” He added, “Over the next couple of years, the saplings will really start to take shape, and because sycamores are so hardy, we’re confident they’ll be able to withstand a range of conditions.” The planting of these “trees of hope” represents a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of nature and the collective determination to find renewal even in the face of loss.
