The Sycamore Gap tree, once a solitary and beloved landmark standing in a dramatic dip along Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, is finding new life through its saplings after its shocking destruction in September 2023. The illegal felling of the iconic tree, which stood for over a century, sparked national outrage and sorrow, but this weekend marks a turning point as the first saplings grown from its seeds are planted across the United Kingdom as part of the National Trust’s Trees of Hope initiative.
On Saturday, November 22, 2025, five of these precious saplings will take root in Coventry, Staffordshire, Berkshire, Cambridge, and Strabane. According to the BBC, these plantings are just the beginning, with more saplings scheduled to be installed next week in Hexham, Leeds, and Sunderland, and further into the winter and spring at a variety of symbolic sites. The initiative is a testament to resilience and hope, aiming to transform a moment of loss into a living legacy that will inspire future generations.
The Trees of Hope initiative, launched by the National Trust in September 2024, received an overwhelming response, with nearly 500 applications for the 49 saplings available. Each sapling represents one foot of the original tree’s height, a deliberate choice that underscores the effort to preserve not just the memory but the very physical legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree. The saplings, now between four and six feet tall, were carefully grown from seeds and material rescued in the immediate aftermath of the felling and nurtured at the National Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre.
Daniel Michael Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, were convicted of criminal damage and sentenced to four years and three months in prison in July 2025 for their roles in cutting down the tree. Their actions, described by the court as a “moronic mission,” left a lasting wound in the landscape and in the hearts of many across the country. But, as National Trust director general Hilary McGrady put it, the saplings now offer a chance to heal: “The team has cared for these 49 hopeful saplings beautifully and they're now ready to be given to communities, where they'll become a source of inspiration, a place to reflect, a home for nature, or simply a reminder that there are always good things worth fighting for, even after something so senseless.” (BBC)
The first wave of plantings is deeply symbolic. In Coventry, a city with its own history of resilience, the Tree Sanctuary will receive a sapling to be planted among other “saved” trees on Sowe Common. Martina Irwin, co-founder of the Tree Sanctuary, described the moment as “really special,” adding, “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.” (BBC)
Other initial locations include a site commemorating the Minnie Pit mining disaster in Staffordshire, Greenham Common in Berkshire—once a protest camp and now a public space—Lisnafin Community Centre in Strabane, and Coton Loves Pollinators in Cambridge. Each site was selected for its significance to local communities and its potential to foster connection with nature and remembrance.
Next week, the saplings’ journey continues. The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds will receive one, as will Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland and the charity Veterans in Crisis in Sunderland. According to Substack reporting by Tony Henderson, these plantings are intended not just as environmental gestures but as powerful symbols. At Hexham General Hospital, the sapling is hoped to become a “symbol of recovery.” At Veterans in Crisis, which supports ex-service men and women, the sapling represents resilience and triumph over adversity. Ger Fowler, the charity’s founder, said, “It is an honour and a privilege to be able to grow and nurture this sapling. It represents triumph over darkness, and a reminder that despite the mindless destruction and loss of something wonderful, there’s always hope and possibility.”
Additional plantings are scheduled throughout December and into the new year. Early December will see a sapling planted at Henshaw Church of England Primary School, the school closest to the original Sycamore Gap tree, reinforcing the connection between the tree and the local community. Holly’s Hope at Hexham Abbey will receive a sapling in honor of Holly Newton, a local teenager tragically killed in 2023. The Lighthouse Project, a youth and community space on the Byker Estate in Newcastle, will also become home to one of the young trees.
The Trees of Hope project has also reached beyond the North East. The North East Autism Society’s New Warlands Farm training centre in Durham will plant a sapling on November 24, creating a space where autistic and neurodivergent children and their families can spend time in nature. John Phillipson, the chief executive, noted, “The planting of the sapling as a ‘Tree of Hope’ could not be more symbolic because New Warlands Farm will be a place where autistic people can grow and be given hope of a fulfilling future.” (Substack)
Looking ahead to 2026, the National Trust plans to plant another 15 saplings in each of the UK’s national parks, including Northumberland, the original home of the Sycamore Gap tree. This ensures that the tree’s legacy will touch all corners of the country, providing opportunities for reflection, remembrance, and renewal in diverse landscapes. The very first sapling grown from the Sycamore Gap tree was gifted to His Majesty The King in the summer of 2024 and will be planted on behalf of the nation at a later date, further cementing the tree’s place in the national story.
All saplings are being planted in publicly accessible spaces, ensuring that as many people as possible can share in the tree’s legacy. The National Trust’s Andrew Poad, general manager for Hadrian’s Wall properties, expressed hope that these new trees would “touch many people’s lives just like the original tree.” He reflected, “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.”
From the Tree Sanctuary in Coventry to the rolling hills of Northumberland, the story of the Sycamore Gap tree is being rewritten—not as one of senseless loss, but as a living testament to hope, resilience, and the enduring power of nature to unite communities and heal wounds. As these saplings take root, they offer a gentle but powerful reminder: even after the darkest nights, new life can—and does—emerge.
