First ‘hopeful’ saplings from felled Sycamore Gap tree set to be planted

The tree was deliberately cut down overnight in September 2023, prompting a national outcry and a police investigation (John Millar/National Trust/PA) -

The first saplings grown from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree are to be planted as National Tree Week kicks off, the National Trust has said.

Five saplings will go in the ground on Saturday, with more than half of the 49 “trees of hope” from the sycamore that stood for more than a century in a dip in Hadrian’s Wall expected to be planted over the course of the week.