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Saplings propagated from the Sycamore Gap tree, which was unlawfully cut down in September 2023 near Hadrian’s Wall, are set to be planted for the first time this weekend. The National Trust revealed that five of these young trees will be introduced in locations including Coventry, Staffordshire, Berkshire, Cambridge, and Strabane. Following this initial planting, additional saplings will find new homes in Hexham, Leeds, and Sunderland the following week.
This effort is part of the National Trust’s Trees of Hope initiative, which garnered nearly 500 applications for the 49 saplings germinated from seeds saved from the original tree. The Sycamore Gap tree was a celebrated landmark, standing tall in a dip adjacent to Hadrian’s Wall until it was felled during the night by two men from Cumbria. Daniel Michael Graham, aged 39, and Adam Carruthers, aged 32, were convicted of criminal damage and received prison sentences of four years and three months earlier this year.
Hilary McGrady, the National Trust director general, expressed the significance behind planting the new trees, stating these saplings “would become an inspiration and home for nature,” as well as a symbol that “there are always good things worth fighting for, even after something so senseless.” Each sapling represents a foot of the original tree’s height, totaling 49 trees, with over half scheduled to be planted during National Tree Week from 22 to 30 November.
The first sites for planting on Saturday include The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry, which was founded by three teenagers aiming to protect local trees, and a memorial site connected to the Minnie Pit mining disaster in Staffordshire. Other planting locations comprise Greenham Common in Berkshire, Lisnafin Community Centre in Strabane, and Coton Loves Pollinators in Cambridge. Martina Irwin, Tree Sanctuary co-founder, commented that planting their sapling would be particularly meaningful: “We’ve chosen to plant it among some other ‘saved’ trees that we have planted on Sowe Common, serving as a beacon to inspire respect, understanding and a sense of responsibility toward all trees.” Further saplings will be planted next week at hospitals in Leeds and Hexham and at a veterans’ charity in Sunderland. Early December will see a sapling planted at Henshaw Church of England Primary School, the school closest to the original Sycamore Gap tree site. Additionally, fifteen saplings are planned for planting in various UK National Parks, including Northumberland National Park, by early 2026.
Andrew Poad, general manager overseeing the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall sites, reflected on the significance of this planting initiative: “It’s incredible to think that this weekend the first ‘offspring’ of this very famous tree will be planted. It feels like just yesterday that those tentative first shoots appeared.” He shared hope that the new trees would touch the lives of many people, much like their predecessor. The first sapling grown widely from the Sycamore Gap tree was presented to His Majesty The King last summer, with plans for it to be planted at a later date for the nation
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