When the iconic Sycamore Gap tree was illegally felled a year ago, there was an outpouring of anger from the public.
Now towns across Britain have the chance to have their very own Sycamore descendant.
To mark its anniversary, the National Trust has announced the opportunity for communities to request one of the tree’s saplings.
These young trees, collectively known as the ‘Trees of Hope’, have been grown from seeds collected shortly after the original Sycamore was cut down.
There are 49 saplings in total — one to represent each foot of the height of the tree at the time it was chopped down.
The Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall (pictured) was illegally felled last year, causing widespread anger
The National Trust has announced the opportunity for communities to request one of the tree’s saplings (pictured)
Seeds and buds rescued from the Sycamore Gap (pictured) are ‘springing into life’ at a specialist conservation centre
People gather around the stump of the Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland National Park
The much photographed and visited sycamore was cut down overnight between September 27 and 28, 2023
People from around the UK are invited to apply for a tree to plant in a publicly accessible space, with applications opening today
The Northumberland National Park Authority will today unveil the first phase of the Sycamore Gap exhibition
They are currently around 5 feet tall and, as they are still too young to be planted, will continue to be cared for by the National Trust until they are strong enough to be put in the ground — most likely late autumn or winter next year.
People from around the UK are invited to apply for a tree to plant in a publicly accessible space, with applications opening today.
The Sycamore Gap tree, which long towered above Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park, was illegally felled on the night of September 27, 2023.
Two men in their 30s have been charged with damage to the tree and their trial is scheduled for December this year at Newcastle Crown Court.
To further continue the legacy of the tree, the Northumberland National Park Authority will today unveil the first phase of the Sycamore Gap exhibition, which will see the largest section of the original tree’s wood installed.
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties, said: ‘The last 12 months have been a real roller coaster of emotions from the hopelessness and grief we felt when we discovered that the tree had been illegally felled, to experiencing the stories shared with us about just what the tree meant to so many.
‘One of the first actions that served us so well was the collection of some of the seeds from the tree.
‘These were sent straight away to the Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre in Devon where the team have worked tirelessly to successfully propagate over 100 seedlings and grafted nine other saplings — so we have the trees descendants for the future.
‘In announcing our ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative today, we aim to find new homes in community settings across the UK so people can have the opportunity to engage with the Sycamore Gap Tree and its legacy so that more people everywhere can feel that they are part of this story and the tree’s wonderful legacy.’
The Sycamore Gap tree was planted about 130 years ago by the landowner John Clayton, who was seen as a visionary because he planted it as a landscape feature knowing he would not see it in his lifetime.
The tree became even more famous after it featured in the 1991 Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
