Sycamore Gap Tree One Year On - 'Trees of Hope' case studies - National Trust

The National Trust has this morning (Friday 27 September) announced more details to help inspire people and communities to apply for one of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ – grown from seed from the sycamore gap tree which formerly stood proudly in the gap, towering above Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park, until it was illegally felled, one year ago.

The ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative aims to ensure that the legacy of the iconic tree lives on for generations to come and can benefit people and communities all across the UK.

Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust said: “The response to the illegal felling of the Sycamore Gap tree really shone a light on the importance of nature in our both our daily lives and as part of our cultural heritage as a nation. We’ve received so many stories and letters about people’s connections with the tree – from marriage proposals under its branches, to fond holiday memories, and poignant reminders of family and friends. So, it was really important to us that we’d made sure the tree had a lasting and positive legacy. Today we’re inviting people and communities all around the UK to apply for one of the new saplings grown from this much-loved sycamore. By doing this, we hope to share a remarkable piece of living history with many more people, and help bring more nature to towns and cities for generations to come.”

Nikki Crowley, who is leading the initiative for the National Trust added: “The thousands of messages from people who wanted to share just what the tree meant to them really did make it feel like the peoples’ tree and that helped us decide on the future of the saplings. The 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ will be gifted to individuals and communities to plant in publicly accessible spaces, with each tree telling a story of hope, wellbeing, culture, celebration, recovery or connection with nature.”