How Do You Honor a Fallen Tree? In England, a Sound Sculpture Will Broadcast the 'Voice' of a Beloved Sycamore Felled Near Hadrian’s Wall
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2Fe6%2F55%2Fe655452d-b48c-4104-ba77-1f589e73ddf4%2Fview_towards_the_sycamore_gap_tree_on_hadrians_wall_in_northumberland_before_it_was_illegally.jpg&w=1024)
A new multimedia artwork titled 'The People’s Tree' will honor the iconic sycamore tree that was illegally felled in 2023 near Hadrian’s Wall. The installation will feature sound and narrative storytelling, incorporating the tree's wood and public reflections. It is set to open in September 2027 and aims to celebrate the tree's legacy and the connections it fostered within the community.
- ▪The sycamore tree was a beloved landmark in Northumberland National Park before it was vandalized.
- ▪The winning design for the tribute was selected based on public votes and a panel of judges.
- ▪The installation will include sounds derived from the tree's rings and will be showcased in various locations around Sycamore Gap.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
How Do You Honor a Fallen Tree? In England, a Sound Sculpture Will Broadcast the ‘Voice’ of a Beloved Sycamore Felled Near Hadrian’s Wall “The People’s Tree” will also incorporate the tree’s wood and archive recordings from the public in a series of community artworks Christian Thorsberg | Daily Correspondent May 27, 2026 4:51 p.m. ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source The sycamore tree before it was felled in 2023. National Trust Images / John Millar A new multimedia artwork will honor the life, beauty and impact of the Sycamore Gap’s iconic tree, which in fall 2023 was illegally felled in an act of vandalism inside England’s Northumberland National Park.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Smithsonian Magazine.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Smithsonian Magazine
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F03%2F1f%2F031f1c20-fb8c-45e8-964a-4ba82e2950d8%2Fs-014-c01_1.jpeg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F21%2F3e%2F213e6ee0-ae4b-403e-a75e-516653c10772%2Fgettyimages-139289970.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F88%2F59%2F885977a1-c31a-42e2-8ac9-c39bebe9ded5%2Ferdos4.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F27%2Faa%2F27aa2593-9660-43a6-844d-52af3a7fd996%2Fc69a7443_1.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F3f%2F59%2F3f59f4a3-baa6-4e76-8ec1-d1f67bed20b5%2Felisenda.jpg&w=320)
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F21%2Fe0%2F21e01f01-f286-4f57-bc46-5d031b7f727f%2Fenterprise12.jpg&w=320)