The initial saplings cultivated from the illegally harvested Sycamore Gap tree have now been planted.

Two saplings have been established in Coventry and Staffordshire, with additional ones scheduled for planting in Berkshire, Cambridge, and Strabane, County Tyrone, as announced by the National Trust.

Further plantings are anticipated in Hexham, Leeds, and Sunderland next week.

This initiative is part of the charity’s Trees of Hope program, which received close to 500 applications for the 49 saplings grown from seeds salvaged from the venerable tree. This iconic sycamore, located beside Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, was felled in September 2023 by two men.

Daniel Michael Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, were sentenced to four years and three months in July after being found guilty of criminal damage.

Hilary McGrady, the director general of the National Trust, expressed that the saplings would not only serve as a source of inspiration and habitat for wildlife but also as a poignant reminder that “there are always valuable causes to advocate for, even in the wake of such a senseless act.”

In total, there are 49 saplings—one for every foot of the original tree’s height.

Over half of these saplings will be planted during National Tree Week, which runs from November 22 to November 30.

The first locations to plant their saplings include The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry, where a trio of young people initiated a project to safeguard the trees in their city, and a site honoring the Minnie Pit mining disaster in Staffordshire.

Additional saplings are set to be planted at Greenham Common in Berkshire, Lisnafin Community Centre in Strabane, and Coton Loves Pollinators in Cambridge.

Before the planting, Martina Irwin, co-founder of The Tree Sanctuary, commented on the significance of the event, stating, “We’ve decided to plant this sapling among other ‘rescued’ trees on Sowe Common, symbolizing a commitment to inspire respect, understanding, and responsibility towards all trees.”

In the week ahead, saplings will be planted at The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Seacroft Hospital, Leeds, Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland, and the charity Veterans in Crisis in Sunderland.

In early December, an additional sapling will be planted at Henshaw Church of England Primary School, the institution closest to the Sycamore Gap.

Moreover, another 15 saplings will be placed in each of the UK’s National Parks, including Northumberland National Park, where the original tree stood, in early 2026.

Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties, remarked, “It’s remarkable to think that this weekend the first ‘offspring’ of this renowned tree will be planted. It feels like just yesterday that we first saw those tentative new shoots.”

He expressed a hope that these saplings would positively impact many lives “just as the original tree did.”

The very first sapling grown from the Sycamore Gap tree was presented to King Charles III last summer, and it will be planted for the nation at a later date, according to the National Trust.