Alice Park to receive sapling from felled Sycamore Gap
They say it'll be ready to plant next winter.
The National Trust's given Bath’s Alice Park one of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ Sycamore Gap saplings being gifted to individuals, groups, and organisations across the UK.
Applications or one of the saplings grown from its seed followed the anniversary of the felling of the much-loved tree at the end of September.
Nearly 500 applications were received for the 49 saplings– one to represent each foot in height that the tree was at the time it was chopped down.
The saplings are currently being cared for at the charity’s Plant Conservation Centre, and they should be strong and sturdy enough ready to plant in winter 2025/26.
The new homes for the saplings will all be in publicly accessible spaces, enabling many more people to feel part of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree’s legacy.
Recipients include The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, Holly's Hope in conjunction with Hexham Abbey in Northumberland, and The Tree Sanctuary and Tree Amigos in Coventry.
The Alice Park Trust’s successful application for a sapling cited the city's green landscape in a twice-inscribed UNESCO World Heritage setting as an ideal location.
It also said the sapling would be planted in the park for all the young people who are looked after in B&NES as a public place for them to connect to and to create a vision for hope and regeneration.
B&NES Council Leader, Councillor Kevin Guy and Councillor Joanna Wright, chair of Alice Park Trust, today welcomed the news that the park had been successful in securing a Sycamore Gap sapling.
They said: “The trust and the council wants to dedicate this Sycamore Sapling in Alice Park to looked after children as a reminder to us all how important they are and of our duty to care for them.
"Having a public place that looked after children can go to and see a tree dedicated to them is a really positive message of hope out of adversity.
"Thank you to the National Trust for this great initiative.”
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties said: “Each and every application for a ‘Tree of Hope’ told heartfelt stories of people’s emotional connections to the Sycamore Gap tree and the importance of nature.
"They spoke of loss, hope and regeneration from all four corners of the country, from towns, schools, colleges, community groups, hospitals and hospices, it’s been a privilege to read them all.
“The tree meant so much to so many and through the ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative we are helping reach people across the nation, for generations to come.
“Each sapling will carry a message of hope with it as they start a new chapter not just for the tree but for all the 49 people and communities that will receive a sapling next year.”
The entries were judged by a panel of experts from the National Trust led by independent judge and arboriculture specialist Catherine Nuttgens.
Catherine commented: “The Sycamore is one of the most architecturally beautiful trees in our landscape.
"In summer, their dark green leaves create a canopy that looks almost like broccoli, while in winter, they create a silhouette that perfectly depicts what we think of when we think of a tree.
“The loss of any tree can evoke strong emotions- none more so than the Sycamore Gap tree.
"Its destruction felt utterly senseless, destroying the simple joy it brought to so many people for so many reasons.
"But the ‘Trees of Hope initiative has kept that sense of joy and hope alive, and it has been truly humbling to read through so many applications but a difficult task to select the final 49 recipients.
“The stories have come from every corner of the UK and every walk of life.
"Their words reflect the hope and kindness that human beings are capable of, which feels like such a fitting response to the loss of this precious tree.”