Sycamore Gap sapling given to autism charity farm

A sapling from the felled Sycamore Gap tree will be planted on a farm which will be staffed by autistic people.

John Phillipson, the head of the charity North East Autism Society which runs the farm, said it was a "real honour" to be awarded one of the tree's 49 saplings.

It will eventually be planted at the organisation's 77-acre (31-hectare) site near Chester-le-Street in County Durham, he said.

The Sycamore Gap tree stood in a dip along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland until it was felled in September 2023.

Mr Phillipson said: "Hopefully [we will] see it blossom into the kind of tree that we saw the Sycamore Gap tree was."

Before the tree was cut down, people from the charity's residential homes made treks along Hadrian's Wall to have picnics by the sycamore.

The National Trust named the charity as one of the groups to be given a sapling last week.

Each sapling represents a foot in height that the much photographed tree reached.

They are being cared for by the National Trust's Plant Conservation Centre and will be ready to plant next winter.

The charity plans to plant the sapling in a prominent place on the farm which is currently being created.

The New Warlands Farm project will feature a restaurant, apple press and a regenerative working farm.

"The whole point is to create as many work placement and employment opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent people as possible," Mr Phillipson said.

Other north-east England charities awarded a sapling include Tina’s Haven in East Durham and the Lighthouse Project in Newcastle.

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