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Sycamore Gap sapling still 'safe and sound'

Nicola Haselerin Milton Keynes
News imageNicola Haseler/BBC The newly planted sapling, with a black rectangular card hung around it. The National Trust logo is in the top left. The sign reads: "The Parks Trust, A Tree of Hope grown from the felled Sycamore Gap tree". There are a few buds coming out of the branches.Nicola Haseler/BBC
There were fears the "tree of hope" had been stolen, but the mystery has been solved

A sapling of the felled Sycamore Gap tree that was planted on the outskirts of Milton Keynes was moved due to boggy ground conditions, it has been confirmed, dampening fears that it had been stolen.

The young tree – one of 49 distributed across the UK by the National Trust – was put into the ground at Stanton Low Park on Friday.

Following concerns that it had been stolen after it disappeared at the weekend, The Parks Trust said the sapling had been moved back to its nursery to "give it the best chance" of survival before it gets planted again.

The Sycamore Gap tree stood near Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland for more than 100 years before it was illegally cut down in 2023.

News imageOwen Humphreys/PA Media A night-time shot of the Sycamore Gap tree, which is set against a sky filled with the Northern Lights. The tree sits in a dip between two hills and appears to be without leaves. The tree and hills are black against the green light, which merges into purple higher up. The purple part of the sky is full of stars.Owen Humphreys/PA Media
The Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was a famous sight before it was illegally felled

Victoria Miles, chief executive of the trust, said it was hoped that the perfect spot had been found close by for the next chapter of the tree's life.

"Our Tree of Hope is safe and sound. Unfortunately, due to the very wet ground at the planting ceremony on Friday, we decided that it was best to temporarily care for the sapling in our nursery," she said.

"To give the tree its best chance, we'll replant it in a nearby location with more ideal conditions."

The Parks Trust chose Stanton Low Park, set in the surroundings of the River Great Ouse, for its rich heritage and scenic landscapes.

Miles added: "New trees are difficult to establish and you do have to look after them. The team will keep a watchful eye on it and make sure it has that opportunity to grow and to flourish."

News imageNicola Haseler/BBC A group of more than a dozen people standing behind the newly planted sapling, which has a protective plastic tube around it and a black label explaining what it is. The people are wearing winter coats and wellies or boots, and are smiling at the camera. A lady wearing a red coat holds a silver and wooden spade with a pile of soil on it.Nicola Haseler/BBC
Dignitaries including Countess Howe (red coat), who is the Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, and High Sheriff Pippa Kirkbride (front, right) attended the planting

She said the site had also been chosen for its history and scenic views, with the 12th Century St Peter's Church at the bottom of the valley.

"The planting will serve as a symbol of renewal and connection to the natural world, offering a place for reflection and celebration for our community," she said.

"I think the tree will become really established. I'm hopeful it will grow to 49ft (15m), like the original."

News imageNicola Haseler/BBC Victoria Miles smiles at the camera, standing next to the sapling which is barely visible against the brown grass and brown footpath behind it. She is wearing a Parks Trust black anorak over a green rangers fleece, and a matching green Parks Trust beanie hat. Behind her is grassland and short bare trees dotted around. The sky is cloudy and leaden.Nicola Haseler/BBC
Victoria Miles said The Park Trust's "passionate and experienced rangers" would nurture the tree

The 49 sprigs, distributed through the National Trust's Tree of Hope scheme, each represented 1ft (30cm) of the old tree's height.

Famous around the world for its position between the hills, there was shock and outrage when the Sycamore Gap was cut down in September 2023.

Daniel Michael Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, were jailed in July for their roles in the crime.

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