Tree from Passchendaele sapling on the shortlist in the hunt for UK’s favourite

MEMBERS OF the public are being urged to root for their favourite tree as new shortlists for the annual Tree of the Year competition are unveiled.

Among this year’s shortlisted trees from across the UK are a sapling pulled from the mud of Passchendaele in the First World War, a tree which has inspired the scouting movement and yew trees which “bleed” or have served as pulpits for preachers.

Some 28 trees have been chosen from nominations for four shortlists, 10 for England and six each for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, with the public urged to vote for their favourite.

This year, for the first time, one tree will be chosen by experts from the four national winners to go forward to represent the UK in the 2018 European Tree of the Year contest. Last year, Wales’ Brimmon Oak was the runner-up in the contest, which looks for the most-loved trees from countries across the continent. It was the best result so far for a UK entry.

Beccy Speight, Woodland Trust chief executive, said: “Once again, the public have nominated many fantastic trees with truly inspirational stories, which highlight how intrinsic trees are in peoples’ lives. It’s a reminder of why we need to care for individual trees and that they still need true protection in law from development or mismanagement.”

The Woodland Trust wants to see better protection for ancient trees and woodland, including through changes to planning policy in England. To vote, visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/treeof theyear.