Vote opens to choose new Sycamore Gap tree memorial artwork
The nation are being asked to vote for the artist who will create a new public memorial from the wood saved from the Sycamore Gap tree.
The vote invites people to choose from six shortlisted proposals, each offering a different vision for how the tree’s story, symbolism and memory can live on for future generations.
The the final selection will combine 30% public vote and 70% judges’ score, with the panel of judges including experts in art and nature connection.
Annie Reilly, Public Engagement Director at the National Trust and chair of the judging panel, said: “Over the past two years, we’ve heard extraordinary stories about what the Sycamore Gap tree meant to people.
“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.
“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.”
Sarah Munro, CEO and creative director at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Newcastle and a member of the judging panel, said: "We’re proud to support this commission, which ensures that this deeply loved landmark continues to inspire creativity and reflection.”
Shortlisted proposals range from the reuse of Sycamore Gap tree wood into new artworks and sculptural installations, to nationwide projects that gather personal stories, spark conversations about climate and bring communities together in song, reflection and remembrance.
Nature connectedness expert Professor Miles Richardson, from the University of Derby and also on the judging panel, said: “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.”
Public voting is open until Saturday, March 28. The winning artist will be announced later this spring, with the work due to be completed by 2028.
For further information and to vote for a proposal, visit the National Trust website.