[Young people are pictured with Councillor Liz Hardman, Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council (right) and Councillor Joanna Wright (centre). ]
A sapling from the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, which stood at Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland before being illegally felled in 2023, has been planted in Bath’s Alice Park.
The sapling is one of 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ grown by the National Trust from the seed of the felled tree and gifted to local communities across the UK.
The Alice Park Trust, which manages Alice Park on behalf of Bath & North East Somerset Council, successfully applied for the sapling, which has been named ‘Tree of Life’ and is dedicated to children and young people living in care or care-experienced.
The planting event on Saturday, February 21, included representatives from Alice Park Trust, Bath Urban Trees, the Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council and care-experienced children and young people. A care-experienced resident and Off The Record spoke about what the tree represents to them.
Councillor Joanna Wright, Chair of the Alice Park Trust, applied to the National Trust for the sapling. She said: “I am delighted that the sapling has been planted in Alice Park for all the young people who are looked after in B&NES. The park is a place for them to connect to and creates a vision for hope and regeneration, highlighting their role in a future that fosters commitment to their wellbeing and that of the environment. Thank you to everyone who supported us to secure this rare sapling, which means so much.”
Councillor Liz Hardman, Chair of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “The ‘Tree of Life’ is a powerful symbol of hope and new beginnings for our children and young people. I encourage residents to visit Alice Park, learn what the sapling represents and join us in supporting care‑experienced young people to thrive.”
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian Wall properties, said: “It’s incredible to think that the first “offspring” of this very famous tree are now being planted – it feels like just yesterday that those tentative first shoots appeared. Over the next couple of years, the saplings will really start to take shape, and because sycamores are so hardy, we’re confident they’ll be able to withstand a range of conditions.”
Alice Park was given to the young people of Bath in 1937 for children to play in, and is a well-used destination park. Bath & North East Somerset Council is the sole trustee of the park, which is managed by the Alice Park Trust Sub-Committee under delegation of the Charitable Trust Board.
Brilliant, we need to hear more of these Good News events/stories.
We need to be doing more positive things individually and in community to strengthen these vital bonds which help folk Flourish in their immediate neighbourhood. This will help us think of our neighbour as also wanting to be compassionate and kind, doing No Harm.
Great idea for Alice Park…..how about the rest of our play areas and Parks which we are blessed to have.
Some of these play areas/parks are maintained and owned by Social Housing.
These leisure areas are not well maintained and have often been neglected and unmaintained making g them unattractive and dodgy places to visit ~ dog mess cigarette butt’s household rubbish personal used items left lying around ( condoms, nappies, feminine hygiene products, food )
I would like to say that CURO housing needs to upgrade their care of natural wild areas, playspaces parks that they are responsible for.
CURO needs to be making new community connections and maintaing the land they are legally responsible for .This should be done by at least the amount set out in the rent charged by CURO for this purpose and by getting a new budget now, to address the poor up keep and maintenance of these well used and loved spaces however unsafe and dilapidated they’ve become by neglect.
They should aim and deliver for the future a future proofed ambitious generously funded • intentionally purposed• enthusiasticaly led to improve maintaintance •update and mprovement of facilities.
CURO
CLEAN up thoroughly the gardens Parks Play Spaces CURO that YOU are responsible for.
NEW FINANCIAL YEAR.
Be transparent and do what your Mission Statement states AND does not do effectively.
We are waiting to see what you plan for the NEW Finacial Year, APRIL 2026