National trust Launches Competition for Artists to Reimagine Wood from Felled Sycamore Gap Tree
The National trust is inviting artists and groups across the UK to submit proposals for artworks created from the wood of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree, felled in September 2023. The initiative aims to honour the treeS legacy and engage a broad audience with a lasting memorial.
The competition, open for submissions between October 13th and November 17th, offers a £200,000 budget for the winning project. Up to five shortlisted applicants will recieve £5,000 to further develop their concepts,which will then be judged by experts and put to a public vote.A winner will be announced in February 2026. The felled tree, previously estimated to be between 100 and 120 years old, held important cultural importance and its loss sparked widespread grief.This project seeks to transform that loss into a symbol of renewal and collective remembrance.
The National Trust seeks proposals with “national impact and relevance” capable of “galvanis[ing] the chosen audience and reach[ing] a mass audience across the UK.” The remaining wood from the Sycamore Gap tree has been seasoned to ensure its longevity and is available in various shapes and sizes for artists to utilize.
A large section of the tree is currently on permanent display at The Sill, a visitor center near Sycamore Gap. Additionally, 49 saplings grown from the original tree - dubbed “trees of hope” – have been donated to organizations including Alder Hey children’s hospital in liverpool and the Rob Burrow Center for Motor Neurone Disease in Leeds.
