The National Trust recently provided an update on the saplings taken from the famous Sycamore Gap tree, which was illegally cut down in 2023. The 49 organizations that will receive saplings grown from seeds obtained from the felled tree have been announced. This act of vandalism shocked the country as the beloved tree near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland was destroyed. The National Trust received nearly 500 applications for the saplings, which will be planted in public places across the UK as part of the Tree of Hope project. Recipients include The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease, Holly’s Hope in memory of Holly Newton, and The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry.
Andrew Poad, the general manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties, expressed gratitude for the heartfelt stories shared in the applications. Each sapling will carry a message of hope, symbolizing a new chapter for the tree and the communities that will receive them. The applications were carefully reviewed by experts, led by arboriculture specialist Catherine Nuttgens. The loss of the Sycamore Gap tree was deeply felt, but the Trees of Hope initiative aims to keep the spirit of joy and hope alive.
One of the saplings will be planted at Hexham Abbey in memory of Holly Newton, a young girl tragically murdered at the age of 15. Her mother, Micala Trussler, shared how meaningful it is to have a sapling to remember her daughter by. The Trees of Hope saplings will serve as symbols for reflection and remembrance in various locations throughout the country.
For more information on the Trees of Hope project and to discover where the 49 saplings will be planted, you can visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/TreesOfHopeStory. This initiative not only honors the memory of the Sycamore Gap tree but also spreads hope and positivity to communities across the UK.
