Cheryl Gavin, Director Helix Arts said:
“To be chosen by both the public and the judging panel feels phenomenal. This project comes from a belief that the legacy of the Sycamore Gap tree lives not only in its wood, but in the relationships, memories and moments of connection it sparked.
Connecting and collaborating with communities along Hadrian’s Wall and across the UK is key, we want to create places where people can pause, listen and feel part of something shared—where loss becomes a starting point for reconnection and care.
Acknowledging the impact of the loss of the tree nationally – we also wanted to find a way to resonate beyond the north-east, and we’ll do this through the digital swapping of stories to understand one another’s experience with the Gap and connection to nature.”
George King from George King Architects said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have been selected for the Sycamore Gap commission. It is a real honour to be entrusted with responding to a place that means so much to so many people.
We are especially excited to be working in collaboration with Helix Arts, and to have the opportunity to engage with communities across the UK, developing the project together and shaping it through shared stories, memories, and experiences.
The tree as it was can never be replaced, but what we can do is create a place for reflection and connections. Drawing on our experience in exhibitions and installations, we aim to shape a thoughtful installation, to create a lasting legacy for future generations, that honours its meaning and gives people a place to reconnect.”
Commenting on behalf of the judging panel, Annie Reilly, Public Engagement Director at the National Trust and Chair of the Judging Panel, said:
“At the heart of the project is a dialogue between the tree and people.
The public response to this commission has been extraordinary, reflecting just how deeply the Sycamore Gap tree mattered to people, everywhere. The People’s Tree proposal stood out for its generosity, sensitivity and ambition.
It offers not a single answer to loss, but an invitation – to listen, to reflect, and to reconnect with nature and with one another. The panel was excited by the way this project places people and communities at its heart while creating a legacy that will be felt locally and nationally for years to come.”
