A Scottish tech company has offered to support regrowth efforts using its vertical farming towers after the iconic Sycamore Gap Tree, which stood next to Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, was illegally felled.
Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is a specialist vertical farming company that engineers sustainable automated systems to develop indoor farming environments across agricultural and commercial spaces.
To help revive the national landmark, IGS, which is based at a scientific research hub near Dundee, has offered to provide a precision-controlled environment free of charge.
The fully-automated tray growth system can reportedly grow seedlings six times quicker than conventional growing methods.
Designed to generate ‘ideal’ growing conditions, the automated solution is hoped to help regenerate the iconic sycamore tree by cultivating an environment with its exact needs.
The system can also be implemented with 100% robotic handling if and when required, with remote management of light, temperature, relative humidity, water, nutrients and CO₂ levels also possible.
Experts estimate the tree was 300 years old, with the act of vandalism drawing national criticism from across the UK.
The National Trust has said its rangers have collected sycamore seeds from the scene, which will be used to plant new trees.
David Farquhar, CEO of Intelligent Growth Solutions, said: “Like the rest of the country, we were shocked and saddened to see the news of the Sycamore Gap tree’s felling.
“…As such, we have approached the Trust’s senior leadership with an offer of utilising the vertical farming towers at our Crop Research Centre near Dundee to cultivate seedlings from the original tree in a controlled environment, which would enable us to give multiple offspring the perfect start to life.
“The Sycamore Gap tree was an iconic feature of the North East of England, and much-loved by many. We know the National Trust will have been inundated with offers of help, but we would be honoured to play a small part in ensuring that its legacy can live on.”
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