Heartwood Exhibition

In response to the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, the National Trust and partners including Northumberland National Park and Historic England, received thousands of comments and responses from the public, who shared their feelings and thoughts about what the tree meant to them. In response to this this, several themes emerged as areas to develop opportunities to remember the tree, these included caring for nature, history, and a space for memories and reflection.

Through Heartwood this first response to the felling, aims to capture the essence of the Sycamore Gap tree and the impression it left on those who connected with it.

What is Heartwood? Heartwood is a new exhibition that opens across the length of Hadrian’s Wall from 15 July. Five wood prints have been created from a disc of the trunk from the felled Sycamore Gap tree. The prints capture the intricate detail of the rings of the tree, and the exhibition is named for the shape the trunk had – a ‘heart’.

Created by artist, Shona Branigan, each print is a different colour, including one white print that is tactile for exhibition visitors to feel the grooves of the rings from the tree.

Each print will be on display at a free to access venue along Hadrian’s Wall at Carlisle TIC, Hexham Abbey, Hadrian’s Wall & Housesteads Fort Visitor Centre and Newcastle City Library. The tactile print will be on display in Hexham Abbey.