Pilgrim 400 Tree Planted at Home Park

A tree commemorating the 400-year anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower has been planted in the grounds of Home Park.

Located near the Green Taverners Suite, behind – appropriately – the Mayflower Grandstand, the tree has also been dedicated in honour of one of the great modern Pilgrims, Gordon Sparks.

Gordon’s wife, Heather, and daughters Kirsty and Holly were part of the planting ceremony, also attended by Argyle chairman Simon Hallett and Plymouth’s Lord Mayor, Sue Dann.

‘Pilgrim 400’ is a new variety of apple, named to mark 400 years since the Mayflower’s pioneering voyage to America. The Mayflower sailed from Plymouth to Massachusetts on 6 September, 1620, with 102 Pilgrims on board, to seek a new life on foreign shores.

‘Pilgrim 400’ trees have been planted in locations associated with the Pilgrims’ story, including Southampton, Billericay and Sherwood Forest, and in many locations in Plymouth.

Gloria Dixon, Tree Warden for Plymouth Tree Partnership, was part of the planting ceremony. She said: “This Pilgrim 400 apple tree is the final one of 40 that have been grown from a previously unnamed apple tree.

“It seemed only right that it should be planted at Plymouth Argyle to commemorate not only the sailing of the Mayflower in 1620, but also to remember possibly the biggest Pilgrim of them all, who recently passed away, and that is our very own Gordon Sparks.”

Argyle CEO Andrew Parkinson added: “We are honoured that the final Pilgrim 400 tree has been planted at Home Park.

“Trees have a presence and permanence in our lives, and we are delighted to dedicate this tree to the life of our friend Gordon Sparks.

“We are very proud of Argyle’s place as an important part of the Plymouth community, and so much of our club’s identity, including a stand and our nickname, derives from the Mayflower’s famous journey. It seems fitting and symbolic it should be planted here.”