Public to decide which artist will transform Sycamore Gap tree wood

Art
14 Mar 2026 • 9:39 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • The public is invited to vote on which of six shortlisted artists will transform timber from the illegally felled Sycamore Gap tree into a lasting artwork.
  • The National Trust launched the public ballot, which runs until 28 March, following a call for a "nationally important" commission using half of the tree's wood.
  • Voters can choose from six distinct proposals, with their input contributing 30 per cent to the final decision, while a judging panel accounts for 70 per cent.
  • The Sycamore Gap tree, thought to have been planted in the late 1880s, was cut down during Storm Agnes in 2023, an act of vandalism that sparked national outrage.
  • The winning artist will be announced later in the spring, with the final artwork expected to be completed by 2028, as part of a wider public engagement programme.

IN FULL