Two young sappers were given the task of planting a commemorative sapling in Ripon’s Spa Park this week.

Next year marks the 75th anniversary of the award of Freedom of the City to the Royal Engineers, who provide military engineering support to the British Armed Forces and have had a base in Ripon for decades.

Ahead of the 2024 events to celebrate this military milestone, sappers Megan Smith and Scott Nield, both aged 23, planted the Zelkova serrata — a relative of the Elm, which is native of Japan.

The tree, provided by North Yorkshire Council parks department, can grow up to 17 metres tall, and was selected because it is a hardy variety with autumn leaves of vivid colours from red through to bronze.

Royal Engineers on last year’s Freedom March.

The sappers were joined by the Mayor and Mayoress of Ripon, Councillor Sid Hawke and his wife Linda, along with fellow Royal Engineers from Claro Barracks and members of the Ripon branch of the Royal Engineers Association

Lt Col Perry Bishop, commanding officer at the barracks, where members of 21 Engineer Regiment are stationed, told the Stray Ferret:

“In a few years, with the redevelopment of the barracks site for housing, we will end our long association with Ripon, where we have enjoyed Freedom of the City since 1949.

“The tree provides a living legacy and reminder of the Royal Engineers’ time here, both in peacetime and when the country was at war.”