Northumberland schoolgirl plants Sycamore Gap seedling at Chelsea Flower Show with Dame Judi Dench

Daniel Hall

20 May 2024 at 4:54 pm·2-min read

Dame Judi Dench and Charlotte Crowe -Credit:National Trust

A Northumberland schoolgirl has planted a Sycamore Gap seedling at the Chelsea Flower show alongside legend of stage and screen Dame Judi Dench.

Seven-year-old Charlotte Crowe from Henshaw C.E. Primary School, the closest primary school to Sycamore Gap, placed the seedling in the Octavia Hill Garden at the show with Dame Judi, who was said to be "very concerned" by the felling of the tree. Charlotte won a National Trust competition where pupils were invited to draw a picture of the tree and write a short poem about what it means to them.

Charlotte's winning entry described the Sycamore Gap tree as mindful, famous, historical, and magnificent. Accompanied by her parents and Henshaw Primary headteacher Michael Glenton, Charlotte's trip was her first to the capital.

She said: "I am so happy that scientists are trying to grow the tree back as it means a lot to our school. I was so surprised that I had won the competition and am excited to go to London because I have never been before."

The seedling is one of a collection of small seedlings and buds propagated at the National Trust's plant conservation centre in Devon and is the first to go on public display. It will be returned to the centre after the show to be quarantined, before rejoining the other seedlings to continue to grow.

The National Trust is working together with Northumberland National Park, Historic England and the Hadrian's Wall Partnership on a range of responses to the tree's felling in the coming months. These include tree planting initiatives in Northumberland and artistic interpretations.

Andrew Poad, the National Trust's general manager for Hadrian's Wall, said: "The response to the tree’s felling has been extraordinary and demonstrates how the tree was special to many, many people, including Charlotte and Dame Judi. This is a memorable moment as we continue to share the story of this much-loved tree and we are delighted that they could both join us to place the seedling in The Octavia Hill Garden today."

The Sycamore Gap seedling can be seen in The Octavia Hill Garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show from May 21 to 25. The trial of two men accused of deliberately felling Sycamore Gap will continue on June 12, after the case was deemed "too serious" for Magistrates Court last week.

Charlotte Crowe's winning poem about the Sycamore Gap tree

I went to see Hadrian’s Wall and I saw a tree.
It was a mindful tree.
It was a mindful, famous tree.
It was a mindful, famous, historical tree.
It was a mindful, famous, historical, magnificent tree.
It was a mindful, famous, historical, magnificent, welcoming tree.
I really hope sycamore gap grows back.
When I go and see the tree it brings back lots of memories.