John Spence High School in North Shields, along with Ashton’s Tuesday Club based at the school, has been selected to receive one of the National Trust’s 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ saplings.
These saplings have been grown from seeds of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, which was illegally cut down in September 2023.
The National Trust invited applications to receive a sapling on the anniversary of the tree’s felling.
The sapling for John Spence High School will be planted in the school grounds, where Ashton’s Tuesday Club—a group that brings together young people with additional needs and their families for weekly activities—can enjoy its growth. This gift symbolises hope, regeneration, and the enduring power of nature, reflecting the ethos of the school and the club’s commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive space.
The club was renamed Ashton’s Tuesday Club in honour of Ashton Clothier, a much-loved PE teacher whose legacy continues to inspire. Ashton, who passed away in 2020 aged just 29 after a short battle with brain cancer, was known for her dedication to children and young people with disabilities. She volunteered tirelessly at the Tuesday Club alongside her partner, Marc Burnip, helping to create a fun, inclusive, welcoming space for children with additional needs
Marc, a teacher at John Spence High School, said: “Our application centred around Ashton’s incredible commitment to supporting children and young people with disabilities, both during her time working at our school and in her subsequent teaching roles. Her work at the Tuesday Club, now renamed Ashton’s Tuesday Club in her honour, continues that legacy. Each week a member of the club is awarded ‘Ashton’s Star Award’ and takes home a special trophy and a forever feather for them to keep.
“I believe the sapling will become a beacon of hope for families of children with learning or physical disabilities, reminding us all of the love and care Ashton bestowed on every child, parent, and carer she worked with. It will also be a place for sanctuary and peace. Ashton loved to make people smile and we would always say ‘keep smiling’ to one another and this became our motto at the club.
“In our application, I also reflected on how my close school friends and I completed the Hadrian’s Wall walking challenge to raise over £12,000 for Macmillan and Pancreatic Cancer Research. The original Sycamore Gap tree became a symbol of inspiration and strength during that journey, motivating us to push through the challenge while remembering Ashton and Andrew, our dear friend who passed away in 2021 from pancreatic cancer. For me, it was a symbol of hope and love, and it helped to inspire and motivate myself and my friends during the walk.”
Andrew Poad, General Manager for the National Trust’s Hadrian’s Wall properties, said: “Each and every application for a ‘Tree of Hope’ told a heartfelt story of people’s connection to the Sycamore Gap tree. The tree meant so much to so many, and through this initiative, we are helping its legacy reach communities across the UK for generations to come.”
The 49 recipients include schools, community groups, hospitals, and charities from all corners of the UK. Other saplings will go to places such as The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds, Holly’s Hope in Hexham, and The Tree Sanctuary in Coventry.
The entries were judged by a panel of experts led by independent arboriculture specialist Catherine Nuttgens, who said: “The loss of the Sycamore Gap tree felt utterly senseless, but the ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative has ensured its legacy will endure. It’s been humbling to read so many inspiring stories of hope and regeneration.”
For more information and to see where all 49 ‘Trees of Hope’ saplings will be planted, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/TreesOfHope.
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