We have some amazing news to share with you! It’s been under press embargo until today (!), but we can finally share our announcement. You may already have seen this in the national press this morning!
You may remember that the iconic Sycamore Gap tree was illegally cut down last September. Earlier this year, the National Trust managed to rescue 49 saplings from the tree, and they have been searching for places around the country for these to grow. We are thrilled to let you know that Greenlands has been chosen as a home for one of these saplings!
Our school was chosen because of the environmental work we’ve done, both in school and across Rotherham, as part of the “Rewilding Rotherham Award” that we launched last year. The sapling is currently in a National Trust nursery, being prepared for planting next Autumn.
This is big news nationally; the National Trust’s first press release has gone out today, and the story has been featured on the BBC and in the Guardian this morning:
As you’ll see in those articles, we’re in good company; other sites that have been chosen include the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. In coming months, each of the 49 locations (including ours!) will be featured in National Trust press releases. We’re also expecting that we may have some local press interest in the story.
We’re incredibly proud to have been chosen for something with so much national significance, and we’ve been itching to let you know. Please feel free to spread the word! We will of course keep you updated about the process between now and next Autumn.
Press Release
Anston Greenlands Primary named as one of the 49 recipients of a ‘Trees of Hope’ Sycamore Gap sapling
The National Trust has announced Anston Greenlands Primary School as one of the recipients of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ Sycamore Gap saplings being gifted to individuals, groups, and organisations across the UK.
The big reveal in National Tree Week [1] follows the charity’s invitation on the anniversary of the felling of the much-loved tree at the end of September for applications for one of the saplings grown from its seed.
Nearly 500 applications were received for the 49 saplings – one to represent each foot in height that the tree was at the time of felling [2]. The saplings are currently being cared for at the charity’s Plant Conservation Centre, and they should be strong and sturdy enough ready to plant out in winter 2025/26.
The new homes for the saplings will all be in publicly accessible spaces, enabling many more people to feel part of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree’s legacy with recipients from all across the UK including The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, Holly's Hope in conjunction with Hexham Abbey in Northumberland, and The Tree Sanctuary and Tree Amigos in Coventry.
Anston Greenlands has been chosen in recognition of the environmental work the school has done. Last year, they launched a Rewilding Award for schools across Rotherham. This was extremely successful and is now spreading further afield, with schools from neighbouring local authorities taking part.
Head teacher Alex Wirth said “We are incredibly proud to have been chosen as a home for one of the saplings. The children and families in our community are working really hard to support nature’s recovery, and this tree will provide a fitting symbol for that.”
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties said: “Each and every application for a ‘Tree of Hope’ told heartfelt stories of people’s emotional connections to the Sycamore Gap tree and the importance of nature. They spoke of loss, hope and regeneration from all four corners of the country, from towns, schools, colleges, community groups, hospitals and hospices, it’s been a privilege to read them all.
“The tree meant so much to so many and through the ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative we are helping reach people across the nation, for generations to come.
“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.
Catherine commented: “The Sycamore is one of the most architecturally beautiful trees in our landscape. In summer, their dark green leaves create a canopy that looks almost like broccoli, while in winter, they create a silhouette that perfectly depicts what we think of when we think of a tree.
“The loss of any tree can evoke strong emotions - none more so than the Sycamore Gap tree. Its destruction felt utterly senseless, destroying the simple joy it brought to so many people for so many reasons. But the ‘Trees of Hope initiative has kept that sense of joy and hope alive, and it has been truly humbling to read through so many applications but a difficult task to select the final 49 recipients.
“The stories have come from every corner of the UK and every walk of life. Their words reflect the hope and kindness that human beings are capable of, which feels like such a fitting response to the loss of this precious tree.”
As part of the ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative, Henshaw Church of England Primary School as the closest school to the Sycamore Gap Tree, ‘Tina’s Haven’ [3] in East Durham, ‘Fergus’s Tree [4] in south Bristol along with all 15 UK National Parks will receive a sapling.
For more information and to find out where in the country all of the 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ saplings will go visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/TreesOfHope.
Editor’s notes:
[1] National Tree Week runs from 23 November to 1 December 2024.
[2] The tree was 15 metres (49.2 feet) in height when it was felled. Forty-nine trees are forming part of this initiative, with each tree representing one foot in height of the tree when it was illegally felled on the evening of 27 September 2023.
The first sycamore gap sapling to successfully grow from seed from the felled tree was gifted to His Majesty the King in Honour of Celebration Day in May for planting in winter 2025/26 in Windsor Great Park for visitors to enjoy as a symbol of the hope and beauty that can come from loss.
[3] Tina’s Haven on the Durham coast is an area of National Trust land being restored for nature with the aim of enhancing recovery for both people and nature.The charity’s ambition is that the land at Tina’s Haven will be developed with the communities of East Durham, one of the most economically deprived former mining areas in the region. The programme is named in memory of Tina Robson – a young woman who lost her life to addiction – and the aim is for Tina’s ‘Tree of Hope’ to form part of this community nature reserve.
[4] ‘Fergus’s Tree’: Fergus was a young boy who sadly died of bone cancer at just 12 years old. As a symbol of hope and recognition for all those suffering from childhood cancers and the families affected a ‘Tree of Hope’ is being planted in his local park
About the National Trust
The National Trust is an independent conservation charity founded in 1895 by three people: Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley, who saw the importance of the nation's heritage and open spaces and wanted to preserve them for everyone to enjoy. Today, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we continue to look after places so people and nature can thrive.We care for more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 780 miles of coastline, 1 million collection items and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves. In 2023/24 we received 25.3 million visitors to our pay for entry sites. The National Trust is for everyone - we were founded for the benefit of the whole nation, and our 5.38 million members, funders and donors, and tens of thousands of volunteers support our work to care for nature, beauty, history for everyone, for ever.