'Hope' one year on from Sycamore Gap felling as exhibition launched with day of celebration

A day of celebration has taken place in Northumberland National Park to mark a year since Sycamore Gap's felling.

240 children from 13 schools descended on The Sill Visitor Centre, less than a mile from where the tree stood, where they shared poems and songs about the tree, as well as taking part in activities. They were also the first people to see the new Sycamore Gap exhibition, where the largest section of the felled tree went on display.

Created by Charlie Whinney, the exhibition is said to represent all four seasons, starting in autumn. An infographic shows the hills of Steel Rigg, while A charcoal drawing is winter, the tracing of the stump is spring, and the leaves, which have been traced and painted by local school children, represent summer.

READ MORE:Massive Northumberland estate sells for £19m, seven years after garden village row

READ MORE:The killer driver that left a schoolgirl dying by the road in Newcastle hit and run tragedy

The exhibition has also invited people to make promises to nature, which will form part of the final phase of the exhibition due in Easter next year. This aims to ensure that the tree's legacy reflects people, place and nature.

Tony Gates, chief executive of the Northumberland National Park Authority, said: "My overall feeling is one of hope, because we didn't feel an awful lot of hope this time last year. When I came in this morning the first thing I wanted to see was the piece of the tree.

"Charlie Whinney, who we are working in partnership with, has done a terrific job. The exhibition was funded by the Community Foundation North East, so it's actually funded by people with roots to the North East."

There is further cause for hope at the stump itself, with 25 new shoots growing around the original tree stump. Andrew Poad, General Manager at National Trust Northumberland Coast & Hadrian's Wall Country, said: "It's been a bit of a rollercoaster over the last 12 months, certainly a rollercoaster of emotions.

"The stump itself is re-growing now. There are 25 shoots growing from it which is a real cause for optimism."

Friday also marked the launched of the Trees of Hope project, where communities around the UK will be able to request one of 49 Sycamore Gap saplings, reflecting the height of the tree. A further 15 saplings have been gifted to each and every National Park in the UK.