HRH The Duke of Edinburgh visited Inverclyde this week to plant a sapling grown from the renowned Sycamore Gap tree, marking a significant moment of remembrance, renewal and community connection.
The sapling was gifted to us through the National Trust’s ‘Trees of Hope’ initiative, a nationwide project established following the unlawful felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree in September 2023. Cultivated from seeds and cuttings taken from the original tree, the 49 saplings have been entrusted to organisations across the United Kingdom whose work reflects themes of healing, resilience and positive transformation.
HRH arrived at the sapling planting site shortly before midday, where he was welcomed by representatives from Moving On Inverclyde alongside service users, staff and invited guests. The Duke took part in the ceremonial planting, placing the sapling into the ground and marking the beginning of its growth in Inverclyde. The planting provided an opportunity to reflect on the enduring legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree and its symbolism as a source of strength, continuity and hope.
Following the planting, HRH travelled to the Beacon Arts Centre, where he was received by the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, Peter McCarthy. During the visit, HRH was introduced to key civic guests in the foyer before meeting members of the Moving On Inverclyde Board. He was then escorted to the first floor to view storyboards illustrating the charity’s work, highlighting its impact across Inverclyde and the role of community-led support in recovery and wellbeing.
HRH later joined invited guests for lunch, taking time to move around the room to meet table representatives and engage in conversation. The Duke subsequently took his seat to continue informal discussions, reflecting a warm and engaged interest in the work being undertaken locally. This part of the visit allowed for further dialogue around the importance of community, creativity and collaboration in supporting individuals on their recovery journeys.
Shared anonymously by a Moving On Inverclyde service user.
Friday 6 February 2026 was a significant day for Moving On Inverclyde when a “Tree of Hope” sapling was planted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh at Battery Park in Greenock.
The sapling was grown by the National Trust from seeds of the Sycamore Gap tree — a 120-year-old sycamore near Hadrian’s Wall that was illegally felled in 2023. Only forty-nine saplings, one representing each foot of the tree’s height, have been gifted to organisations across the UK. That Moving On Inverclyde is one of the recipients is a testament to their caring, nurturing ethos and the work they do. It is a huge honour.
While the event was important for Moving On, it also stirred strong emotions in me because of what it represents in the journey of recovery. To explain why this moment matters so much requires a little personal context.
I struggled with alcohol for more than twenty years. Over that time, my life became a cycle of short-lived abstinence, relapse, detox, and relapse again. During my final — and third — stay in detox at the Kershaw Unit in Gartnavel Royal Hospital, I reached the end of my rope and finally said to myself, with real commitment: I can’t do this any more.
Although I was detoxed, I didn’t know how to live without alcohol. It had been my emotional and mental crutch for so long. I had heard of Moving On but knew very little about what they did, only that they might somehow help people like me. Walking through the door felt daunting, yet the friendly, non-judgemental staff knew exactly how to welcome me and encourage me to keep going in a new and uncertain direction.
I threw my heart and soul into recovery.
Over six months, I engaged in one-to-one support, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) group sessions, counselling, wellbeing therapies, meditation, Tai Chi, acupuncture, and SMART Recovery. I was in full attack mode.
Addiction is lonely, frightening, dark, and destructive.
It strips away identity until life feels empty, numb, and joyless, with no sense of worth or possibility. It feels hopeless.
But hope remains — sometimes faint, but always present.
For me, the tree is a powerful symbol of recovery in many ways.
Like the Sycamore Gap tree, we can be cut down by addiction. Not by axe or saw, but by the slow damage it causes. On the surface, almost nothing of our former selves seems to remain. Yet, just like new shoots from a felled tree, with encouragement and support through recovery we can grow again — the same, yet different. A new version of ourselves.
Even the tree’s new home carries meaning.
Standing near the shore at Battery Park, open and exposed to the prevailing west wind, it will face storms and harsh weather. But by weathering those storms, it has the chance to grow strong. In time, its branches will lengthen, its leaves will flourish, and it will provide shelter and joy to others nearby.
I feel deep satisfaction that Moving On Inverclyde is now the custodian of this tree. The positive impact the organisation has on individuals rebuilding their lives after addiction — and on the wider Inverclyde community — is immeasurable. They help people to help themselves. As people apply the tools they learn and begin to believe in a different future, the effects ripple outward to families, friends, workplaces, and beyond. Moving On truly improves wellbeing across the whole community.
My own recovery has transformed every part of my life — how I feel, how I think, and how I live. Because of the support I received, my life feels meaningful, happier, and worth living again. The staff, volunteers, and fellow attendees at Moving On helped me to help myself build a life that is fuller and more hopeful, and for that I am deeply grateful.
