AN ash tree in Scotland’s largest city has been shortlisted for the Woodland Trust's annual Tree of the Year competition.
Known as the Argyle Street Ash, the Glasgow tree was nominated by local resident David Treanor, who noted its description in James Cowan’s 1935 book From Glasgow’s Treasure Chest as "quite the most graceful ash I have seen".
This year’s competition theme, “Rooted in Culture,” seeks to spotlight trees that have inspired artistic expression or have become embedded in local heritage. A total of 10 trees from across the UK have been shortlisted.
Voting for the award opens on Friday, July 11, with the winner to be announced on September 26. The chosen tree will go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest.
Other contenders include a cedar tree in Chiswick famously climbed by The Beatles in a 1966 music video, a yew grove in Cumbria celebrated in a poem by William Wordsworth, and the Tree of Peace and Unity in County Antrim, a lime formed from two trees which became symbolic during the Good Friday Agreement.
Also among the finalists are the King of Limbs oak in Wiltshire, which inspired the title of a Radiohead album, the so-called Lollipop Tree featured in the final scene of 1917, and the Knole Park Oak in Kent, thought to be the tallest in Britain and linked to Virginia Woolf’s novel Orlando.
Dame Judi Dench, patron of the Woodland Trust, has encouraged public participation in the vote.
“Our oldest trees hold more stories than Shakespeare,” she said.
“They are as much a part of our heritage as any literature. I hope you will join me in voting.”
The competition, supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery, aims to raise awareness of the importance of ancient, rare, and culturally significant trees.
Laura Chow, head of charities at the lottery, said the shortlisted trees have “witnessed key moments in history” and continue to inspire reflection and creativity.
Public voting remains open until September 19 via the Woodland Trust’s website.
