Trees of life Saplings from Sycamore Gap to spread hope

Saplings from the felled. Sycamore Gap tree are to be planted across the UK, including next to one of London's most famous roads, at a rural prison and at a motor neurone disease centre opening in the name of the late rugby league star Rob Burrow.

- Mark Brown

The National Trust last Friday announced the recipients of 49 saplings it has called "trees of hope".

Other recipients include a charity set up by the family of murdered Northumberland schoolgirl Holly Newton, who was killed by her jealous ex-boyfriend; and Alder Hey children's hospital in Liverpool.

Nearly 500 applications were received after the trust announced a scheme for the saplings to be gifted across the UK. There are 49 - one for each foot (30.5cm) of the sycamore's height-and all were grown from seeds recovered from the felled tree.

The Sycamore Gap tree was planted as a landscape feature on Hadrian's Wall 150 years ago, becoming one of the most photographable places in England and the site of countless marriage proposals, birthday celebrations and scatterings of ashes.