Hospice to be given Sycamore Gap sapling

A Merseyside hospice is to be presented with a sapling from the Sycamore Gap tree that was cut down.

St Joseph's Hospice in Sefton successfully applied to be given one of 49 Trees of Hope saplings grown from seed from the iconic tree by the National Trust.

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

Hospice chief executive Mike Parr said it was "a real honour and privilege" to get a sapling as a "symbol of hope and life for our community".

The hospice, which sits in 12 acres of woodland in Thornton, was named as one of the successful applicants during National Tree Week, with the saplings gifted to individuals, groups and organisations across the UK.

A hospice spokesperson said the saplings symbolised hope and fitted with the hospice's philosophy of "bringing life into people's days".

Mr Parr said he, like many people, was devastated to hear of the felling of the iconic tree, having visited it on several Hadrian's Wall charity walks.

"Our woodland provides local families with a great deal of comfort and our Tree of Hope will take pride of place right at the front of our main reception area, in an area filled with daffodil bulbs, so that everyone visiting the hospice and walking in our woodland will be able to enjoy watching it grow," he added.

The hospice cares for about 200 people every year from areas including Sefton, Liverpool and West Lancashire.

The 49 saplings, representing each foot in height that the much photographed tree reached, will be planted next winter.

They are currently being cared for at the National Trust's Plant Conservation Centre.

Nearly 500 applications were received, with the new homes all being in publicly accessible spaces as part of the iconic tree's legacy, the National Trust said.

Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust in Hadrian's Wall, said: "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.

She said the destruction of the Sycamore Gap tree "felt utterly senseless" but the Trees of Hope initiative had kept that sense of joy and hope alive.

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