THAT OLD CHESTNUT?
MASSIVE TREE ON GOLF COURSE A ‘STANDOUT ENTRY’ FOR TREE OF YEAR
A TREE could be named the best in the country – if it gets backing from a public vote.
The chestnut, in the grounds of Willesley Park Golf Club, is a giant, with a girth of over 11 metres, and has wowed the judges thus far, bagging itself a place in the top 10 finalists for the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year.
However, to take the crown, the Ashby tree has got to beat plenty of tough competition from around the UK.
The enormous chestnut was named a finalist after hundreds of nominees were whittled down following reviews by the Woodland Trust throughout the year, in its #TreeoftheWeek contest on social media.
The Tree of the Year competition is now in its seventh year, with judges praising the Ashby chestnut for its sheer size and wow factor.
They called it a “standout entry” for the final.
Adam Cormack, head of campaigning for the Woodland Trust, said the contest is “a reminder of the natural connection that we have with trees”.
“It’s all about that wow moment that people get when they see a tree they appreciate,” he said.
“This could be standing under a magnificent old oak or noticing the colours of a street tree on the school run.”
Last year’s winner was a plane tree in Hackney known as the Happy Man Tree, but, unfortunately, even widespread fame could not earn the Happy Man a happy ending in its title-winning year as it was felled shortly after because of redevelopment.
The Ashby chestnut has some stiff competition for the 2021 title, including a monster 600-year-old tree in Cumbria, a lone but proud hawthorn in Dumfries and Galloway and a Kent hornbeam known as the Teapot Tree.
If Ashby’s giant chestnut wins, it will go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year 2022 conautumn test. Voting is now open online on the Woodland Trust website, with people urged to have their say before the December 13 deadline.
Adam said: “Trees deserve to take centre stage.
“Tree of the Year is a simple way to show our love of trees at a time when trees are so vital to fight the climate and nature crisis.”
It’s all about that wow moment that people get when they see a tree they appreciate
Adam Cormack