A POWERFUL symbol of resilience took root in Cowal last week as a sapling grown from the infamous Sycamore Gap tree was planted at Benmore Botanic Garden.
The young tree — named the Tree of Hope — was planted last Thursday as part of a nationwide initiative bringing together all 15 UK National Parks to share the living legacy of the much-loved tree, which was destroyed in a shocking act of vandalism in September 2023.
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park was one of just three locations chosen for the first wave of plantings, alongside Northumberland — home of the original tree — and Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in Wales.
Set against Benmore’s dramatic backdrop, the planting carries deep local significance. The garden itself is still recovering from the devastating impact of Storm Eowyn in 2025, which uprooted around 300 trees and caused widespread damage — including splitting one of its towering giant redwoods in two.
Speaking at the event, National Park Authority chief executive Gordon Watson said the planting sends a powerful message.
He said: “Even from the most destructive of actions, nature can recover and flourish when we care for it properly. This sapling ensures people will be able to connect with that story for generations to come.”
Dr Julia Knights, Regius Keeper of Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh — which includes Benmore Botanic Garden — commented: “I am delighted that this sapling from the iconic Sycamore Gap tree has been planted at Benmore. Nearly all life depends on plants and fungi, and both are key to our health, wellbeing, and connectivity to nature. As this sapling matures and grows, it will stand as a living reminder of the importance of our natural world, and the urgent need to protect it, an urgency which drives our world-leading science and conservation work across our four Botanic Gardens in Scotland.”
For more than 150 years, the Sycamore Gap tree stood beside Hadrian’s Wall, becoming one of the most recognised and cherished trees in the UK: a place of connection, memory, and shared identity. Its sudden, senseless destruction in September 2023 was felt far beyond Northumberland. Thanks to the careful work of the National Trust, the tree’s genetic legacy was preserved, and a new generation of saplings now exists, ready to grow across fifteen of the UK’s most treasured landscapes, into the next chapter of that story.
The sapling will be cared for as part of Benmore’s world-class living collection, managed by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, whose expertise and long-term commitment will ensure it flourishes. It will be planted in the grounds of Benmore House, in the shadow of a mature sycamore tree that dates back over 100 years — roughly the same age as the Sycamore Gap tree itself. Visitors to Benmore will be able to encounter it directly, connecting with its story and with the natural world.
