Vandalized Sycamore Gap Tree Shows Signs of Life

National Trust nurtures seeds and cuttings, hopeful for new growth and future saplings.

The Sycamore Gap tree, which was cut down in an act of vandalism in late September, is showing signs of life from cuttings and seeds collected from the site.
Despite it being the wrong time of year for plants to grow from seeds and cuttings, the National Trust is seeing early positive signs and is hopeful that a third of the mature seeds and half of the cuttings will be viable.
The new trees are expected to be planted around Northumberland, but not at the Sycamore Gap, due to the site's protected status and difficult terrain.
The National Trust also hopes for new growth from the trunk of the Sycamore Gap tree, but it will take at least three years to know if this will be possible.
The fate of the majority of the trunk is still under discussion, with options including a memorial bench or sculpture telling the history of the site.