Sycamore Gap sapling planted as tribute to knife crime victims

Sycamore Gap sapling planted as knife crime tribute

The Sycamore Gap sapling is symbolised as a living memorial to knife crime victims

A sapling grown from the famous Sycamore Gap tree has been planted in a south London park as a symbol of hope for young people affected by knife crime.

The young tree, planted in Brockwell Park in Brixton, was grown from the Northumberland sycamore that was illegally felled two years ago. Organisers said it represents lives lost too early to violence.

The sapling is one of 49 grown from the original tree and distributed by the National Trust to communities across the country.

Romilla Arber, co-founder of the Make It Stop campaign, said she believed the project closely matched the group's aims.

"When the National Trust launched the campaign... I thought it just fitted very well with the Make It Stop campaign, which is about keeping hope strong in communities, caring, working together, building something from small beginnings," she said.

Romilla Arber said her campaign group submitted a "compelling" application to get one of 49 saplings

Among those helping to plant the tree was Lambeth Council's cabinet member for safer communities, who said his work was shaped by personal experience of violence.

Dr Mahamed Hashi said: "I've been to university three times, got a first degree in biomedical science, master's in forensic science, got a PhD.

"Never been involved in criminality, but at the age of 15 I was the victim of a stabbing. At the age of 23 I was a victim of a shooting while breaking up a fight."

Mahamed Hashi, himself a victim of knife crime, is now tasked with reducing it in Lambeth

The sapling replaces a large ash tree that previously stood in the park but had to be felled after becoming diseased.

Laura Moreland, from the Friends of Brockwell Park committee, said the new tree carried particular meaning.

"Sycamores are good, strong-growing, fast-growing trees, and this one has extra cachet coming from the Hadrian's Wall dreadful gap, but wonderful that we've got a piece of it here," she said.

Lambeth Council said it hoped the tree would act as a lasting reminder of young lives lost and a sign of commitment to reducing violence.

"The significance of this tree is the tree of hope," Dr Hashi added. "We are looking towards eradicating knife crime and violence to our young people, as well as remembering those that have passed."

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