KING CHARLES III has received the first successful seedling nurtured from seeds of the felled Sycamore Gap tree.
The first successful seedling nurtured from seeds collected from the 200-year-old Sycamore Gap tree, after it was illegally felled last September, was gifted to His Majesty The King by the National Trust, in honour of this year’s Celebration Day on Monday, May 27.
Celebration Day is an annual day which aims to encourage everyone to remember and celebrate the lives of those no longer here.
The 15-metre-tall sycamore was a much-loved feature in the landscape, which stood on Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland.
The King, who is Patron of the conservation charity and a long-time environmentalist, confirmed the seedling will be planted when it has matured into a sapling in Windsor Great Park for visitors to enjoy.
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The hope is that once the tree has been established, the wind will eventually help ensure its seeds are widely distributed.
Hilary McGrady, director general of the National Trust, said: “It is wonderful news that His Majesty will one day have the very first sapling grown from this iconic tree. The new tree will be seen by many thousands each year and will be the first of many Sycamore Gap saplings planted at different places, in Northumberland and beyond.
“The swell of emotion we saw after the sycamore was felled goes to show how personally connected we all are to our natural heritage. These new green shoots are keeping the story of the Sycamore Gap alive, and are serving as a reminder of the simple, and much-needed hope, joy and respite that nature can bring.”
So far charity experts have successfully propagated more than 100 seedlings and more than 40 cuttings from the felled tree at the conservation charity’s Plant Conservation Centre in Devon.
The public received a first glimpse of the first Sycamore Gap seedling in the National Trust show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show last week where it was placed in a garden inspired by the charity’s founder, Octavia Hill.
The seedling will continue to be cared for by expert horticulturists until it is ready for planting. Planting plans for the other surviving seedlings will be announced by the charity later this year including in Northumberland.
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