The Woodland Trust has announced the winner of its annual Tree of the Year contest, which this year had the theme ‘rooted in culture’. The conservation charity ran it to highlight how certain trees hold a special place in people’s hearts and communities.
The 10 finalists included trees selected by an expert panel and one nominated by the public, and it was this people's choice that ultimately won the gong.
Standing tall on one of Glasgow’s busiest roads, the winner of the competition is a mature, bright green ash.
It is known locally as The Only Tree on Argyle Street, and is one that lives in the hearts of Glaswegians and part of the city’s emotional architecture, says David Treanor who nominated it. It is rooted in the social history of Glasgow, having survived the Clydeside Blitz, the rise and fall of industry, and is now defying the odds to resist ash dieback.
In recognition of its cultural and ecological value to the city, the tree was the first in Glasgow to be protected by a tree preservation order.
The runner up in the contest was King of Limbs in Savernake Forest, Wiltshire – an ancient oak that inspired Radiohead and gave its name to one of their albums, The King of Limbs. It garnered 24% of the votes.
In third place, the Lonely Tree of Llanberis received 13% of the vote. The tree is a popular subject for photographers and will possibly appear in the forthcoming series of The Witcher, a fantasy drama created for Netflix.
The top five trees from the competition were:
- Argyle Street Ash, Glasgow
- King of Limbs, Savernake Forest, Wiltshire
- Lonely Tree, Llyn Padarn, Llanberis
- The Lady Jane Grey Oak, Bradgate Park, Leicester
- The Beatles' cedar tree, Chiswick House and Gardens, London
Adam Cormack, head of campaigning at the Woodland Trust, said: “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. 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.”
Over 30,000 people voted in the competition. The winner will now go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year 2026 contest.
The Woodland Trust Tree of the Year contest celebrates the value of trees in cultural history, shining a light on the most magnificent in the UK.
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Main image: Douglas Crawford, Tree Wise Urban Forestry
