Signs of life on ‘iconic’ sycamore tree that crashed down in Sheffield’s Graves Park during storm last year

New shoots have emerged from the base, giving hope that the beloved tree lives on nine months after it crashed down.

The photos, kindly supplied by @john_gallaghers_pictorium, show the shoots soaking up the autumn sun.

The ‘lone tree’ stood on a stretch of open grassland in Graves Park, close to Graves Park Pavilion. When it was brought down by Storm Elin in December last year, there was an outpouring of sadness by the community.

In a statement at the time, Sheffield City Council's Parks and Countryside said its team had been ‘overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and memories of the tree’.

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They added that they were looking at having the sycamore made into a sculpture, a bench, or even a climbing log.

In June, the team posted on Facebook that the tree would be carved into a ‘sculptural seat’. They also asked for members of the public to share their treasured memories of the tree, and ideas for pictures or motifs that could be incorporated in the sculpture.

In our video above, taken on September 21, a second group of shoots can be seen on the opposite side of the tree’s base.

Councillor Richard Williams, Chair of the Charity Trustee Sub-Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “I am delighted that we are making progress towards commemorating the ‘Lone Tree’ that stood in Graves Park. We can confirm that the tree will be sculpted into a bench that will incorporate people’s personal memories of the park and the tree. We are currently in the process of obtaining funding for this.

"Thank you to everyone who has sent in their ideas and contributed to making this commemorative bench, so far, including the Friends of Graves Park and many local residents and park users.

“Two new trees will also be planted along the boundary line of the field where the original tree stood and hopefully these will become landmarks in their own right, to be enjoyed by future generations of park users.

“As for the saplings, we currently have no plans for them, but our Community Forestry Team will certainly look into this.”