Voting to commemorate the Sycamore Gap tree
It’s the chance to create a unique vision to shape the next chapter of the Sycamore Gap Tree’s story.
The nation is being asked to vote on six different proposals with the goal of creating a lasting legacy from the Sycamore Gap tree wood.
Voting is now open and is running until Saturday 28 March with the result forming 30% of the final decision. Each of the six artists is offering a different vision for how the tree’s story, symbolism and memory can live on for future generations.
‘Over the past two years, we’ve heard extraordinary stories about what the Sycamore Gap tree meant to people – from moments of celebration and milestones to quiet memories of loss, connection and reflection,’ says NT’s Annie Reilly, Judging Panel Chair.
‘It became more than a tree; it became part of the emotional landscape of the nation.’
‘We always wanted to make sure that the tree had an extraordinary legacy, and the wood is now ready for artists to work with, after being carefully stored so it could season over the past 28 months.’
‘This vote is now the opportunity for the public to help shape the on-going story. Each of the six proposals honours the tree in a different way, and we want people to choose the idea that captures what the Sycamore Gap tree meant to them.’
‘This project is built on the belief that something hopeful and unifying can come from such a painful loss. We hope as many people as possible will take part, explore the proposals, and help shape the future story of the tree.’
The Sycamore Gap seedlings at the National Trust Plant Conservation Centre, August 2024. Image: © James Dobson / National Trust Images.
‘Sycamore Gap has long been a symbol of connection’
It’s envisaged that final artwork will be completed by 2028 as part of a major nationwide programme honouring the tree’s impact on the country. The tree was illegally felled in 2023.
It follows Trees of Hope, where communities around the UK were invited to apply for one of the 49 saplings grown from seeds rescued from the original tree.
Each sapling represented one foot in height of the tree at the time it was felled. They’ve been widely planted across the UK with the aim of sharing its legacy.
The winning proposal will form a major nationwide commission to honour what the Sycamore Gap tree meant to so many people, while inspiring deeper connections between people and nature.
The tree’s felling in September 2023 prompted an outpouring of grief, affection and reflection from millions of people.
To help ensure the public plays a meaningful part in shaping the next chapter of its story, a national vote will form a key part of the judging process with the final selection combining 30% public vote and 70% judges’ score.
While deeply rooted in the recent history of the north-east of England, the Sycamore Gap tree held meaning far beyond the region, inspiring visitors from across the world.
As we remember it: The Sycamore Gap Tree. Image: © John Millar (provided by The National Trust)
‘The Sycamore Gap tree belonged to everyone’
‘Sycamore Gap has long been a symbol of connection – between people, place, and memory,’ says Sarah Munro, Creative Director at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle and member of the judging panel.
‘We’re proud to support this commission, which ensures that this deeply loved landmark continues to inspire creativity and reflection.’
‘The Sycamore Gap tree belonged to everyone – to the region, of course, but also to all those who travelled to see it, walked the landscape, or simply admired it from afar.’
‘Opening the commission nationally reflects the global affection for the tree and the ambition to create a work of art that carries its story into the future.’
‘The shortlisted artists bring exceptional imagination, sensitivity and skill. Each offers a unique way of honouring the tree’s loss while celebrating its enduring place in our shared cultural memory.’
Shortlisted proposals range from the creative reuse of Sycamore Gap tree wood into new artworks and sculptural installations, to nationwide participatory projects that gather personal stories, distribute symbolic carved seeds.
Other plans include building platforms for conversations about climate and to bring communities together in song, reflection and remembrance.
‘Trees are salient and important to people’
Shortlisted artists include: Alex Hartley and Tom James, based in Devon & London (Viewpoint), Helix Arts x George King Architects, based in the North East (The People’s Tree, A Shared Story).
Sycamore Gap Back is a proposal from Mary Dalton, based in Hampshire, non zero one is based in London and is entering with SEEDS. Stories of 1000 trees is from Sussex based, Sam Williams Studio. Twirl is the entry from Trigger, based in Bristol.
The commission is supported by the Sycamore Gap Partnership Board, which includes Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA), Historic England, and the Hadrian’s Wall Partnership and the National Trust.
‘Trees are salient and important to people, be they local or iconic and the depth of feeling we witnessed after the felling demonstrates this,’ says judging panel member, Professor Miles Richardson, University of Derby.
‘When symbols like the Sycamore Gap tree are lost, it reminds us of the deep emotional bonds we can form with the living world.’
‘The commission is about more than an artwork – it’s an invitation to renew our relationship with nature, to notice and celebrate it every day, and to take action to protect the natural world.’
‘The public’s involvement is vital because this connection belongs to everyone.’
The winning artist will be announced later this spring. The aim is for work to be completed by 2028.
