A sapling grown from the seeds of the historic Sycamore Gap tree has been planted in Sussex.
The “Tree of Hope”, which has been planted in Arundel next to Swanbourne Lake, was grown from seeds collected from the Sycamore Gap tree, which stood for more than 150 years along Hadrian’s Wall before it was illegally felled in 2023.
The tree is one of 15 saplings that have been gifted to each of the UK’s National Parks.
Vanessa Rowlands, chair of the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), said: “It’s incredible to think that this beautiful tree has been grown from the Sycamore Gap tree and it just shows how nature can bounce back and recover.
“National Parks are about bringing people together and finding a connection with nature, so we are really pleased to plant this tree as we celebrate the birthday of the South Downs National Park.
“I hope this tree touches as many lives as the original Sycamore Gap tree did and spreads positivity, hope and joy.”
The saplings were cultivated by the National Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre, with 49 grown in total, one for each foot of the original tree’s height.
National Trust staff and volunteers took seeds from the original Sycamore Gap (Image: Caroline O’Doherty)
The planting coincides with the 16th anniversary of the national park’s creation, on March 31.
Mayor of Arundel, Carolyn Kenney, said: “We are honoured that this Tree of Hope, with its rich cultural heritage, has been planted in Arundel at the gateway to the glorious landscape of the South Downs National Park.”
The tree was planted with the permission of the Duke of Norfolk.
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Left to right: Stephen McAuliffe, SDNPA Member, Sion McGeever. SDNPA CEO, Vanessa Rowlands, Chair of SDNPA, Bob Tanner, Arundel Tree Warden, and Cllr Carolyn Kenney, Mayor of Arundel (Image: Sam Moore)
The original Sycamore Gap tree, which was planted in the late 1800s, was felled illegally in September 2023.
Daniel Michael Graham and Adam Carruthers were later convicted of criminal damage and each jailed for four years and three months.
Before its felling, the tree was well-known in popular culture, and was renowned for featuring in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.