Early on a late September morning in 2023, the famous Northumbrian landmark known as Sycamore Gap Tree was vandalised; felled by a suspected group of four men.
"The process of grafting a plant is precise, and various techniques are being used by the experts hoping to save the sycamore."
Since the events of that morning, the local community has mourned the loss of this great tree, which had held its roots by the historical Hadrian’s Wall for nearly 200 years. An iconic symbol of the north, Sycamore Gap Tree has been the ritual site of scenic wedding proposals, and a place for families to spread the ashes of their loved ones. This sycamore tree had witnessed life and death for over 150 years, but never was it thought that we might witness its own fall.
While the events of 28th September were distressing to many, the National Trust, who own and maintain the land on which the sycamore had grown, has recently shared some news that could bring hope for the future.
As National Trust workers prepared to remove the remains of the fallen tree to a safe place where it could be preserved, Rachel Ryver, a local horticulturist, sprang into action, knowing that there was a limited window for cuttings to be harvested from the tree.
In total, five bags worth of seeds and cuttings were harvested from the dying sycamore. From there, they were transported to a top-secret location, the National Trust greenhouses in Devon where all sorts of historically and culturally important plants are duplicated. Once at this location, it was down to Chris Trimmer, a leading horticulturist in the UK, to ready the salvaged tree for grafting.
The process of grafting a plant is precise, and various techniques are being used by the experts hoping to save the sycamore. These include ‘budding’, ‘whip and tongue’ and ‘apical wedge’ grafting. The age-old practice is like something straight out of a Mary Shelley novel. A section taken from the fallen sycamore is cut into a wedge which is then attached to a healthy rootstock of another plant of the same family, before being bound firmly together.
"The National Trust hopes to work with artists in the future, incorporating the salvaged parts of the tree into commemorative artworks for the northern icon."
Although the prospect of reviving the Sycamore Gap tree is exciting, it will be a while before any of the saplings will be ready to plant. Once planted, a sapling usually takes around 25 years to grow to adult size, and another 75 to mature.
While we may get to see the Sycamore Gap Tree given a second chance at life, it will be generations to come before we can see it in all its glory. For now, the sycamore saplings sit side-by-side with a copy of the apple tree which inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theories on gravity.
The National Trust hopes to work with artists in the future, incorporating the salvaged parts of the tree into commemorative artworks for the northern icon. A fundraiser has been set up to help spread awareness of the importance of conservation within woodlands and natural landscapes.
You can read more about this on the National Trust website, where they have released a personal statement regarding plans for the Sycamore Gap's legacy.
