Nominations sought for Britain’s favourite tree to take on Polish oak

Members of the public are being urged to nominate “trees with a story” to compete to be crowned Tree of the Year.

The Brimmon Oak in Wales narrowly missed out on being crowned 2017 European Tree of the Year, and the Woodland Trust hopes a tree from the UK could go one step better next time round.

The Tree of the Year competition is asking people to nominate trees for four shortlists representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which the public will then be able to vote on. 0 The Brimmon Oak missed out on tree of the year crown

From the four country winners one will be chosen to represent the UK in the Europewide contest.

Tree lovers are being asked to nominate a tree with a link to a historical figure or event, a tree at the heart of a community or one which is just well loved.

As it launched the new search for the country’s best trees, the Woodland Trust called on the government to act on proposals which could lead to increased protection for some of the country’s most famous and ancient trees and woodlands.

In this year’s European Tree of the Year contest, the giant Brimmon oak in Newtown, Powys, which was saved from being felled for a bypass, was runner-up with 16,203 votes.

Poland’s entry, the Oak Josef, which sheltered a Jewish family hiding from the Nazis, won.