TREE CHEERS!
Oak saved from a bypass crowned Britain’s best tree
ATREE which led to a bypass being slightly diverted to avoid its destruction has been crowned UK Tree of the Year. The Brimmon Oak, which once was almost cut down, was chosen as Wales’ Tree of the Year in a public vote.
After the winning trees for England, Northern Ireland and Scotland were revealed in a Channel 4 documentary presented by Ardal O’Hanlon, judges voted Brimmon Oak the overall champion.
More than 18,000 votes were cast in the contest.
The Brimmon Oak, a giant oak with a girth of more than six metres, hit the headlines in 2009 when plans emerged to fell it to make way for the planned Newtown bypass.
Local farmer Mervyn Jones started a petition to save the tree which was signed by 5,000 people, and the Welsh Government agreed to vary the route to save the tree.
The Brimmon Oak was one of six Welsh trees shortlisted, along with Derwen Hwyl at Hafod y Llan; Beddgelert in Gwynedd; the Gregynog Oak at Tregynon, Powys; the Bodnant Sweet Chestnut at Bodnant Gardens in the Conwy Valley; the Castle Oak at Dinefwr Park, near Llandeilo; and the Cwm yr Esgob Oak, near Rhayader.
The winner of England’s Tree of the Year was Sycamore Gap tree, Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland, which is most famous for being filmed in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves in 1991.
The Scotland Tree of the Year was Ding Dong tree at Prestonpans Primary School, East Lothian, while the Northern Ireland Tree of the Year was the Holm Oak at Kilbroney Park, Rostrevor.
A total of 28 trees were shortlisted across the four countries in the contest. The competition is organised by the Woodland Trust and is supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Each of the four winners will now represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest, which takes place in February. The winning trees will also each receive a care grant of £1,000 which can be used towards its upkeep, to create interpretation materials or even a celebratory event.
Beccy Speight, Woodland Trust chief executive, said: “Trees are inspirational in so many ways and our four winners clearly demonstrate how we cherish these natural landmarks. They punctuate our lives and landscapes and tie us to our past, the equivalent of our best buildings, but yet are far less protected.”
The Woodland Trust’s V.I.Trees campaign seeks to create a register for Trees of National Special Interest in all four countries. More than 9,000 people have so far supported the charity’s call.
For more information visit www. woodlandtrust.org.uk/campaigning