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Public invited to pick Sycamore Gap tree artwork

News imagePA Media The Northern Lights shining over the Sycamore Gap at Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, before it was illegally felled. The tree silhouette is illuminated by the pink and green light in the night sky.PA Media
The Sycamore Gap tree was illegally felled in September 2023

The public is being invited to vote on which of six shortlisted artists should create an artwork from the wood of the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree.

The National Trust asked artists, organisations and creative agencies to present ideas for a "nationally important" commission that would help shape the tree's next chapter by using half of its timber.

The six chosen ideas were from artists in the north-east of England, Devon, London, Hampshire, London, Sussex and Bristol.

The tree, which had stood in a dip along Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland since the 1800s, was cut down by two men from Cumbria in September 2023.

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers's act of vandalism sparked national outrage and an outpouring of grief for the widely loved landmark, with the two men subsequently jailed.

National Trust public engagement director Annie Reilly said: "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."

The public's input will contribute to 30% of the final decision, while scores from a judging panel made up of nature and art experts will make up 70%. Voting runs until 28 March.

News imageAlex Hartley and Tom James / National Trust A sketch of the dip in the land where the Sycamore Gap tree used to sit has a tall structure placed on it. Two sets of stairs lead up to a platform, which has a tree ring design on the floor, is perched on top of poles. There are black and white people on the platform and walking up to it, there are also two characters sitting on the field beside it. A dotted line marks out where the tree once was.Alex Hartley and Tom James / National Trust
News imagePeter Barker / National Trust An aerial view of a rusty metal container brimming with dozens of grey pieces of wood, that appear to have been burnt.Peter Barker / National Trust
Viewpoint by Alex Hartley and Tom James
Sycamore Gap Black by Mary Dalton

The six artists or collaborations are

  • Alex Hartley and Tom James, based in Devon and London
  • Helix Arts x George King Architects, based in the North East
  • Mary Dalton, based in Hampshire
  • Non zero one, based in London
  • Sam Williams Studio, based in Sussex
  • Trigger, based in Bristol

The wood is ready for artists to work with after being stored to season over the past 28 months.

The winner will be announced later in the spring and the final artwork is expected to be completed by 2028.

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