The UK is full of trees with historical or cultural significance. Some of these iconic trees are featured in novels, poems, and songs. These trees are an important part of the communities in which they are located.
This year’s winner of the Tree of the Year was actually a wildcard entry and not expected to win the contest, reported the BBC. But the Argyle Street Ash, in Glasgow, Scotland was chosen by the public. It is the only tree on one of Glascow’s longest streets.
The nomination of the tree was made by arborist David Treanor who has been taking care of the ash for five years. It is protected by a tree preservation order.
He told BBC that, “There are stories of people's mothers and fathers meeting underneath the tree, there are people who hail taxis and ask it to be sent to the big tree on Argyle Street - there are so many lovely wee stories about it.
“It was the people's tree, the only urban tree on the shortlist and people in Glasgow got behind it.”
About the Contest
The annual event is run by The Woodland Trust, a nonprofit in the UK. Every year a panel of experts pick nine trees of differing ages, species, and significance. The public gets to pick an additional tree as a wildcard option.
The competition was steep and included the King of Limbs Oak, which was the inspiration behind a Radiohead album, the ancient Lady Jane Grey Oak located in the Leicester's Bradgate Park, as well as the cedar at London’s Chiswick house where the Beatles posed for a photograph.
The winner of the contest goes on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals that will be held in early 2026.
Why it Matters
The fact that the Argyle Street Ash, which was planted in the Victorian era, won the competition matters for many reasons, reported The Guardian. The 75-foot tree has been featured in the book and local legends. One legend is that the sapling grew when a local family returned from a vacation with primrose roots and one contained an ash seed.
Another reason is that the tree is very resilient. Many ash trees around the UK were felled due to a fungal disease that kills them. So far the ash has survived the Clydeside blitz in WWII, urban redevelopment, and the fungal disease.
The contest shows that people really care about their local culture and that includes trees. “Trees really matter to people, and this is clear from the response we’ve seen to the Argyle Street ash. Trees inspire us to write stories and create art, whilst connecting us to cultural legacies and a sense of place,” Adam Cormack, the head of campaigning for the nonprofit, told The Guardian.
He added, “We encourage people to notice and enjoy the trees around them and learn more about how they benefit us – from boosting biodiversity and wellbeing, to mitigating the effects of climate change.”
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