The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease has received one of the first of 49 Sycamore Gap tree saplings as part of the National Trust's 'Tree of Hope' initiative, launched by the charity last September to find homes for the saplings grown from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree.

Nearly 500 applications were received for the 49 saplings – one to represent each foot in height that the tree was at the time of felling. The saplings, now between 4 and 6 feet tall, were grown from the seeds rescued from the felled tree and have been carefully nurtured at the National Trust’s Plant Conservation Centre.

 All the saplings will be planted in publicly accessible spaces, in locations across the UK, to enable as many people as possible to feel part of the iconic tree’s legacy.

 MND patient, Ian Flatt, nominated the Rob Burrow Centre for MND to receive a sapling and he was invited back to the centre with his family to officially plant the tree, joined by clinical staff, Lindsey Burrow and charity supporters.