Voting is now open to crown Europe’s Tree of the Year, and the UK has a Liverpudlian entry!
The ancient Allerton Oak in Liverpool’s Calderstones Park won the UK’s Tree of the Year contest run by the Grantham-based Woodland Trust.
Now the 1,000 year old oak, from which acorns and leaves were plucked and sent to serviceman fighting abroad during the Second World War as a token of good luck, is going up against 15 trees nominated by our European neighbours.
The contest – in which Spain, France and Russia all have entries – is run by the European Environmental Partnership, bringing together European nations to celebrate the stories and community connections of landmark trees.
Voting is open until Saturday February 29 at treeoftheyear.org/vote , with the number of votes cast visible on its website until the final week.
Adam Cormack, the Woodland Trust’s head of campaigning, said: “Think Eurovision, but for trees. We’re currently mid way in the results, with two weeks to go, so we need the UK to get behind this fantastic Liverpudlian entry and get voting!
“The UK’s trees could do with a bit more love. Since last year’s contest more trees have come down needlessly in our towns and cities and calls to save important trees from infrastructure plans such as HS2 have been rejected.
“This contest is a great way to join with other European environmental charities in championing our trees and the vital role they play. Please join the chorus, and cast your vote!”
The enormous gnarled Allerton Oak stands in Calderstones Park, a former haunt of Beatles’ legends John Lennon and Paul McCartney in their youth. Legend suggests that the large crack down the side of the tree was formed in 1864 when the sailing ship Lotty Sleigh caught fire and exploded on the River Mersey and devastated large parts of Liverpool.
In medieval times local courts were known as ‘hundred courts’ and usually lacked a courthouse facility. The Liverpool landmark admirably deputised, with officials meeting under the spreading branches to hear the cases.
Cabinet member for environment and sustainability, Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins, at Liverpool City Council, said: “The Allerton Oak is a much-loved and cherished tree in the heart of one of our beautiful parks and is hugely popular with visitors.
“It is fantastic it has received this recognition and our thanks go to the many people who voted for it – and we’re now asking for them to vote for it as European Tree of the Year.”
The UK entry is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Sanjay Singh, Senior Programmes Manager with People’s Postcode Lottery said: “I am delighted that players of People’s Postcode Lottery supported the Woodland Trust’s celebration of our nation’s best loved trees. I hope people really get behind the Allerton Oak and vote for it in the European Tree of the Year competition, and that it encourages more people to seek out trees with stories to tell near them to nominate in the national competitions in 2020!”
Winners will be honoured at the award ceremony hosted by MEPs Luděk Niedermayer and Michal Wiezik at the European Parliament in Brussels on March 17th.
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