Sycamore Gap tree sapling planted at hospital

The sapling was planted by Damon Kent and director of nursing and midwifery Marion Dickson

A sapling from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree has been planted in the grounds of a hospital.

It has been given pride of place outside the entrance to Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland as part of the National Trust's Tree of Hope initiative.

The young tree is one of 49 saplings to be planted across the UK - the first two were in Coventry and Staffordshire last week, but this is the first in the north-east of England.

Damon Kent, from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said the tree had been "so special" to people in the county and it was a "fitting" place for it to grow.

The Tree of Hope initiative received nearly 500 applications for the saplings grown from seeds rescued from the tree, which stood in a dip next to Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland until two men cut it down in September 2023.

Daniel Michael Graham 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both from Cumbria, were jailed for four years and three months in July after being convicted of criminal damage.

The sapling was planted outside the main entrance of Hexham General Hospital

Mr Kent, who is director of the NHS trust's estates, said: "Sycamore Gap was so special for so many people and what better and fitting solution to have a sapling planted back in Northumberland.

"Although it's only one tree, the significance of it is phenomenal.

"People will come out here, they'll have quiet, reflective moments when they're thinking about loved ones, people who've been treated in the hospital or cared for other people will come and witness it hopefully blossom."

Andrew Poad said it was "brilliant" to see the sapling planted in Hexham

Andrew Poad, National Trust's general manager for Hadrian's Wall, said it was a "really special day" planting the region's first sapling.

"We had nearly 500 applications so it was a really tough job to select 49, so we tried to get as wide a spread as we could across the country," he said.

"I saw the seeds being collected, we weren't sure whether they'd actually germinate because it was quite early in the year.

"But now to see them being planted out and hopefully bring hope to people here at the hospital, patients and staff alike, it's brilliant."