Sycamore Gap Sapling Planted in University of Leicester Botanic Garden
By Community Correspondent
The University of Leicester’s Botanic Garden is now home to one of the iconic Sycamore Gap saplings from the National Trust.
The Trust has distributed 49 saplings grown from the seed of the famous Northumberland tree that was felled in September 2023 across the UK, including the garden in Oadby as part of the ‘Tree of Hope’ project.
A delighted Nick Bailey, Director of the Botanic Garden, has now planted the sapling in the centre of the arboretum in the lower garden next to a spinney of birch.
He said: “This ‘Tree of Hope’ will be a wonderful feature for the decades ahead. We’re looking forward to seeing it grow and mature over time and sharing that with visitors old and young – some of whom may well have seen the original tree in all its glory at some point over the years along Hadrian’s Wall.”
The 49 saplings represent each foot in height that the tree was at the time of the felling.
Applications for the saplings were invited from individuals, groups and organisations across the UK before a panel of experts from the National Trust led by arboriculture specialist, Catherine Nuttgens chose where they would go.
Each new home for the saplings will be in publicly accessible spaces, enabling many more people to be part of the Sycamore Gap tree’s legacy.
Professor Thompson Robinson, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Head of College of Life Sciences at the University of Leicester and Chair of the University of Leicester Botanic Garden Board said:
“It’s wonderful to see this historic tree taking on a new lease of life in the University’s Botanic Garden where we hope it will thrive for years to come, providing those who visit with a vital connection to nature and heritage. It will act as a poignant reminder to future generations of our shared responsibility to look after the world around us.”
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties said:
“It’s incredible to think that the first “offspring” of this very famous tree are now being planted – it feels like just yesterday that those tentative first shoots appeared. Over the next couple of years, the saplings will really start to take shape, and because sycamores are so hardy, we’re confident they’ll be able to withstand a range of conditions.
“To be able to keep the story of the Sycamore Gap alive in all four corners of the UK and in so many different settings is a fitting tribute, and we hope that, just like the original tree, these young saplings will touch many people’s lives.”
