TREES OF HOPE
The illegal felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree has led to a new beginning – 49 times over
Above The Sycamore Gap sapling destined for Coton Orchard, Cambs
By Helen Beer
Above A moment with the sapling in The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry
ast autumn, a group of sycamore saplings set off from a secret location in Devon.
Some travelled hundreds of miles, destined for new homes as far afield as a youth project in Newcastle Upon Tyne, an ancient orchard in Cambridgeshire, an urban park in Bath and a horticultural college in Swansea. Each has a unifying theme: hope in – and for – the natural world.
These saplings are the ‘Trees of Hope’ – 49 trees grown from seeds collected from the original Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland following its illegal felling in September 2023. People from around the world united in person and online to express grief and outrage – but they also shared ideas for how the tree’s legacy might live on.
A year later, the Trust announced that organisations and individuals could apply to offer a home to one of 49 saplings – one for each foot in height of the original tree – to plant in a publicly accessible space as a symbol of hope and renewal. More than 500 organisations and individuals applied and, after two years of nurturing at the Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre in Devon, in autumn 2025 the saplings were strong enough to plant out. Communities at the 49 chosen sites around the UK planted their Trees of Hope, reflecting on what the tree, and nature, means to them.
As well as the Trees of Hope, each of the UK’s National Parks has been given a sapling from the tree, creating a living legacy network. The Trust also presented a sapling to His Majesty the King, our charity’s patron, to plant in Windsor Great Park, and to the school closest to the site of the original tree, in recognition of its importance to its local community.
Part of protecting the fallen tree’s legacy was deciding what to do with its wood. The largest intact piece is now on permanent display at The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, which is part of Northumberland National Park. Other smaller pieces of wood have been used in art projects, such as printmaker Shona Branigan’s Heartwood prints, created using a 90cm disk from the trunk.
In May, following a public vote and final decision by an expert judging panel, the Trust revealed the winners of the Sycamore Gap wood commission. Arts charity Helix Arts and George King Architects will create a shared, living artwork called The People’s Tree. They are inviting people to send in recordings sharing personal connections to trees. They’ll also record a ‘digital soundtrack’ of the Sycamore Gap tree by scanning the tree’s rings, turning its history into sound. Together, the works will form a series of exhibitions, culminating in a sound sculpture near Hadrian’s Wall.
At the site of the original tree, new shoots growing on the stump hint that in time the tree could regenerate. One day a legacy sycamore might stand in the Gap once again. While we wait, the 49 Trees of Hope will continue the story it began.
Above The 49 Trees of Hope were raised at the National Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre in Devon
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s Healing by Nature project uses nature to support people through mental health challenges.
We see every day how nature supports wellbeing and helps reduce anxiety, stress and depression. We planted our sapling at our Trevillis site, in Liskeard, where we’re developing an outdoor wellbeing space. The tree will anchor the space, which is designed for activity, reflection and recovery, helping us embed nature at the heart of how we support mental health.
Planting the sapling felt incredibly special and symbolic. We held a small ceremony and a group member sang a song she wrote after attending our group and spending time in nature. It was an emotional and powerful moment that captured the spirit of ‘Healing by Nature’ beautifully.
The people involved in planting the tree still feel a connection. During hot weather, members of the team have watered and cared for it, and we’ve been pleased to see new shoots as it settles and grows. It already feels like an important part of the space and the community around it.
Our tree will anchor a space designed for activity, reflection and recovery
Above The sapling has a place in Coton's 'Story Orchard'
Coton Loves Pollinators is a grassroots village group in Cambridgeshire that brings local people and businesses together to create nature corridors.
Planting our sapling was a refusal to let destruction have the final word
One of our members grew up near Sycamore Gap, and the tree threaded itself through many of their life’s important moments: childhood walks, trips home, then later taking their own children there. For them, as for many others, it was never simply a tree but a landmark of memory and belonging.
We planted our sapling at Coton Orchard, where we have created a ‘Story Orchard’ filled with what we think of as living bookmarks: trees planted to hold memories, histories and acts of hope. The sapling seemed destined to find its place among them. We marked the moment with a community event for local people, and Sir Partha Dasgupta, economist and president of the Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants, planted the sapling in its new home.
Receiving the sapling felt strangely moving. A small thing, easy enough to carry in your hands, yet heavy with the sense of what had been lost and what might still endure. Planting it became less an act of replacement than of continuity. It’s a refusal to let destruction have the final word.
Above Planting at Tina’s Haven, County Durham, in memory of Tina Robson, who lost her life to trauma-based addiction in 2020
The Landscape and Horticulture department at Gower College Swansea, works with teenagers at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training).
For us, our sapling symbolises renewal and new opportunities. We have already begun using it to teach our learners about trees and the vital role they play in ecosystems. We want our learners to be aware of the impact the vandalism of cutting down the original tree had on the nation, and to take responsibility for nurturing one of its saplings.
The act of gathering to plant our tree created a wonderful sense of unity and shared purpose. The event brought together managers, students, lecturers, community partners and pupils from local schools. It highlighted our commitment to sustainability and wellbeing, and strengthened connections across our community.
We planted our sapling in our Heritage Orchard, a tranquil and naturally beautiful part of the college grounds. The orchard features an ancient apple tree alongside newer fruit trees, a pond and remembrance benches, creating a calm and reflective environment. The sapling is already encouraging more members of our college community to visit the space and enhancing their sense of wellbeing.
Nurturing our sapling is a fabulous opportunity to learn
National Trust Images x5
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