A community arts charity, Helix Arts, and George King Architects have won a public vote to create 'The People's Tree', a multimedia artwork using preserved wood from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland. The National Trust commission, announced in September 2025, will transform the tree into a 'living archive' featuring participatory storytelling, a national sound archive, seed pods for digital recordings, a soundscape from growth rings, and a sound sculpture near the original site. The project is expected to begin public engagement in summer 2026 and be completed by autumn 2027.
This commission matters because it reimagines memorialization through community participation rather than a static monument, addressing the widespread public grief over the 2023 illegal felling of the iconic tree beside Hadrian's Wall. By inviting diverse communities across the UK and internationally to contribute reflections on nature and loss, the project fosters resilience and connection, while also preserving the tree's legacy through innovative art and audio archives. The National Trust's broader legacy programme includes planting 49 'trees of hope' saplings, reinforcing the cultural and emotional significance of the Sycamore Gap tree as a symbol of natural heritage.