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Dec 2024
1,000 trees planted at Swinton Estate in memory of felled Sycamore Gap
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More than 1,000 trees have been planted at the Swinton Estate to mark the felled Sycamore Gap tree.
Artist Lucy Pittaway, who has a gallery in Harrogate, previously unveiled two paintings memorialising the Northumberland tree, which was chopped down down in September 2023.
Ms Pittaway promised to plant a tree for every print sold.
Felicity and Mark Cunliffe-Lister agreed the Swinton Estate in Masham could accommodate the trees after a large number of larch trees had to be felled to stop the spread of larch blight.
The 1,000-plus trees planted at the estate are predominately sycamore, but there are also oak, cherry and crab apple trees, which will together form the Lucy Pittaway trail.
Ms Pittaway said today:
To see this new woodland and the trail coming to life is wonderful. It was incredibly important to me that what we are creating here at the beautiful Swinton Estate should be a lasting and fitting memorial to the felled Sycamore Gap tree. With the planting of 1,000 trees, as well as the installation of these initial pieces of art, that is certainly the case. And while planting may be completed, our journey here is really only just beginning.
As the seasons change, the trees will continue to grow and I’m excited that over the coming months we will continue to add sculptures and other elements to the trail.
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister and Lucy Pittaway in front of Jess Wilkinson's wicker sculpture.
The two ends of the trail are marked by a steel ring, which is surrounded by a bridge of larch logs (pictured at the top of this story). The log archways will be filled with moss and other plant materials to create habitats for wildlife.
There will also be a series of sculptures through the trail, the first of which has already been installed.
Artist Jess Wilkinson created woven wicker pods, which are suspended from tree branches, to resemble birds nests.
Hidden cameras inside the pods will capture the movements of creatures that choose to make the pods their home.
Daniel Graham, 39, and Adam Carruthers, 32, both pleaded not guilty to criminal damage after being accused of illegally felling the iconic tree.
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, a North Yorkshire councillor who represents Masham and Fountains, said she was delighted to host the new woodland, and hopes many people will enjoy the trees as they mature in years to come.
She added:
The first whips went in earlier this year, and larger trees added in the autumn to complete the planting scheme, and replace the trees that were sadly lost to avoid the spread of larch blight… for one tree to inspire the planting of 1000 more is absolutely remarkable.
Sycamore Gap was a place visited by generations of the same family – and indeed, Lucy’s twins visited the spot she remembers from her own childhood not long before the tree was chopped down. We hope that many more will follow in their footsteps and visit this new woodland as it starts to mature.
(L) Felicity Cunliffe-Lister and Lucy Pittaway.
The trail will officially open next Spring, when signs will be put up.
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