Sycamore Gap: One Year On

A willow lantern tree made with Greenhead Primary School

One year after the loss of the Sycamore Gap tree, Green Croft Arts worked with Year 6 pupils at Greenhead Church of England Primary School to make a lantern celebrating its life and the possibility of new growth.

Led by Amanda Drago as the lead willow artist, the children helped create a sculptural sycamore tree from willow. In pairs pupils also made an oversized sycamore seed lanterns. Together, the seeds became part of a shared artwork: a tree remembered through the hands and imaginations of the children who live closest to it.

The lantern was created for Sycamore Gap: One Year On at The Sill in September 2024. Each of 13 local schools worked with a local artist to make a tree in response to the loss of the Sycamore Gap tree. Their work was exhibited alongside an installation by artist Charlie Whinney featuring a large section of the original tree’s wood. At the opening celebration, 240 children from the schools came together to sing a specially commissioned song marking the tree’s life.

While the felling of the tree was felt deeply across the country, this was a particularly local story for the children. Making the lantern gave them space to respond creatively and to think about what the tree might mean for future generations.

At Green Croft Arts, we make projects rooted in the landscape and communities around Hadrian’s Wall. Working with Greenhead pupils on this piece brought those commitments together. The willow tree and its illuminated seeds held both remembrance and hope, showing how a familiar place can continue to inspire new stories.