Ten trees, including one in Grantham, have been shortlisted and members of the public are invited to vote for their favourite in England.
The Woodland Trust’s annual competition, now in its seventh year, shines a light on the nation‘s best trees to help drive up interest in their value and protection.
Among them, the Grantham Oak, believed to be 600 years old, is on Belton Lane and is loved by the locals.
Just over 100 years ago, its surroundings would have all been fields, aside from the watermill over the way. Around that time it would have also seen the troops training at nearby Belton Park marching back and forth under it as they prepared to be sent off to the front lines of the First World War.
Even as its surroundings have changed over the years, the oak remains.
Recently however, its future looked less certain. In 2018, a utility company set up working around the tree, parking heavy equipment under its branches and digging trenches nearby, inadvertently threatening its roots.
The Woodland Trust, also based in Grantham, sprung into action, working with the council to make sure that adequate protections were put in place to ensure the tree’s future – a rope barrier has been erected to keep vehicles from driving over its roots, followed by a special protective surface over the wider area. The Grantham Oak should still have a long life ahead of it.
To vote for the Grantham Oak go to
https://campaigns.woodlandtrust.org.uk/page/66211/data/1?supporter.questions.285157=Tree%208
The other contenmders include the Shoe Tree in Heaton Park, Newcastle, is a sycamore adorned with shoes thrown by students on completion of exams.
The Chained Oak in Alton, Staffordshire, was the inspiration for the Hex ride at Alton Towers, with legend stating that the Earl of Shrewsbury had the tree bound in chains after a curse warned that for every branch that fell, a member of the earl’s family would die.
A 150-year-old plane tree in Hackney, east London, called the Happy Man Tree, currently earmarked for felling to make way for housing, is also among the contenders.
Another tree in the running is The Wilmington Yew in Wilmington, Sussex, which, growing among the graves, is more than 1,000 years old.
Completing the shortlist are The Marylebone Elm in Westminster, The Beltingham Yew in Northumberland, The Beech Tree in the Altar at Bayham Abbey, Kent, The Crouch Oak in Surrey, Chained Oak in Altona and The Remedy Oak in Dorset.
Darren Moorcroft, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, said: “Easily overlooked and routinely undervalued, trees deserve their moment in the sun.
“This competition is a very simple way to demonstrate our appreciation of trees.
“We had more than double the number of trees nominated by members of the public this spring compared to past years.
“This is perhaps no surprise given that lockdown had so many of us slowing down and taking more note of nature on our doorsteps, a boost for our mental health and wellbeing.
The Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year competition runs in England, Scotland and Wales, and each country will have its own winner.
Just one of the three national winners will be selected to represent the UK in the 2021 European Tree of the Year contest.
The public can look at the shortlist and cast a vote on the Woodland Trust website, with voting closing on September 24.
TO VOTE FOR THE GRANTHAM OAK GO TO…. https://campaigns.woodlandtrust.org.uk/page/66211/data/1?supporter.questions.285157=Tree%208
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