UK Tree of the Year 2016
The Brimmon Oak, Wales

The Brimmon Oak in Wales Photo: Rob, the Tree Hunter

The trees of the year in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are:
England: The Sycamore Gap
Northern Ireland:The Holm Oak of Kilbroney Park
Scotland: The ding dong tree
Wales: The Brimmon Oak
Click on the name of the tree to find out more

To see the photographs of the all of the magnificent trees which were shortlisted for
UK Tree of the Year 2016 click here

Tree of the Year 2016

Each country’s winning Tree of the Year will go on to represent that nation in the European Tree of the Year 2017 competition.

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UK Tree of the Year 2015

To see the photographs of the all of the magnificent trees which were shortlisted for
UK Tree of the Year 2015 click here

England

Cubbington Pear Tree Warwickshire

Pear
 

Believed to be over 250 years old, this beautiful tree is a local icon which has stood for generations at the top of a hill near South Cubbington Wood and is much admired by all who pass by. It is thought to be the largest wild pear tree in Warwickshire and the second largest in the United Kingdom. The tree sits on the proposed phase 1 route of the HS2 line from London to Birmingham and could be lost if or when construction gets underway.

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Wales

Survival at the Cutting Edge, Llanarthne

Oak
 
"When I was born what is now the National Botanic Garden of Wales was seven starter farms. To earn pocket money at the age of 14 I was given the job of clearing an overgrown paddock. Armed with a scythe, I cleared vast tracts of it, until I developed an excruciating pain in my elbow and had to stop. On my return two days later, the farmer reminded me (though they hadn’t told me before) not to cut down the oak tree in the paddock. So, but for my elbow, I would have destroyed this beautiful tree."
Terry Treharne

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Scotland

Suffragette Oak, Glasgow

Oak



This relatively young oak within Kelvingrove Park is a big part of the history of Glasgow’s women. It was planted by suffrage organisations on 20 April 1918 to commemorate the granting of votes to women.
 
Beside the tree is a beautiful plaque, placed by Glasgow District Council in 1995. It is a favourite spot on the Glasgow Women’s Library West End Women’s Walk.

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Northern Ireland

The Peace Tree
Woodvale Park,
West Belfast
Oak

This oak was planted on Empire Day, 1919. It is primarily a tree of remembrance and peace, in honour of local people who never returned from the First World War. It became a very important focal point for veterans for many years after the war, before seemingly being forgotten for almost 50 years. The tree was rediscovered in 2006 (the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme) and became reinvigorated back into the community. A railing, put in place by Belfast City Council, now surrounds and protects this significant oak.  And with the newly commissioned European War Memorial now adjacent, community and visitor interest has flourished extensively.

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To see the photographs of the magnificent trees shortlisted for
UK Tree of the Year click here
For more information on these and other wonderful trees go to the Woodland Trust Tree of the Year

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Each year the winning tree from each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland goes forward to the
European Tree of the Year competition - from the four nations of the UK the Cubbington Pear Tree from England received the most votes

Downy oak: the oldest tree of Bátaszék, Hungary Photo: Bátaszék Town

European Tree of the Year 2016
The oldest tree of Bátaszék, Hungary
Downy oak (Quercus pubescens)

The tree's story
The oak of Bátaszék survived as a memory of a forest from the 18th century and the chapel behind it was built at the time of the plague. The tree and the chapel guard the settlement and its people who also found protection here during the flood of 1956. The local farmers have always looked after the tree: they cut the dry branches and painted the stump to protect it from diseases. According to local tradition, the trunk of oak has to be sprinkled with wine in order to ensure next year’s rich grape harvest.

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