In a bid to keep the memory of her son Fergus alive, Ruth had long been searching for a tree with special meaning to plant in his memory. Fergus tragically died from cancer when he was just 12 years old, and Ruth wanted a tribute to her son that would also draw attention to the challenges faced by all children affected by childhood cancer. The solution came in the form of The Sycamore Gap tree – one of the most photographed trees in the world – which was cut down a year ago, sparking national outrage.
Fergus’ community in Backwell, near Bristol, will be gifted a sapling grown from The Sycamore Gap tree. This is part of a larger initiative by the National Trust who have grown around 100 of the saplings, some of which are now around 5ft tall. The original tree was 49ft when it was cut down in 2023, but its legacy now lives on in the communities that have been gifted the saplings. Father and son had planned to walk Hadrian’s wall, along which The Sycamore Gap tree was nestled. Ruth and Ian have chosen a prominent spot in Fergus’ local park for the special sapling to be planted.
Sue Robson, whose daughter Tina died from addiction and mental health struggles in 2020, has also been gifted one of the saplings. Sue wanted to create a sanctuary for women dealing with similar issues to those that Tina faced. This will be called Tina’s Haven and is set to be established in a landscape of rolling fields, hedgerows, ponds and woodlands in County Durham. Tina’s mother describes the chopping down of the original tree as an act of “violence against mother nature itself” and sees a “parallel” when it comes to themes of “hope, of nature, of recovery and connection.”
The National Trust is hoping that these saplings will become symbols of hope and healing, with each tree going to a very special place. With each new tree, a little bit of hope and healing is finding its way into the communities lucky enough to receive them
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