These are all the shortlisted trees for Tree of the Year 2024

One of the most beautiful parts of living in a digital age is how easy it is to find people who love the same things as you. It no longer matters if you’re the only fan of tap-dancing-frog cartoons in town, you can head online and find your community of like-minded amphibifans. Likewise, if you can’t get enough of really old trees but are yet to discover anyone who shares your passion, we’ve got some great news. 

Each year, the Woodland Trust holds what is basically the Oscars for centuries-old trees of the UK. Tree of the Year has been running for a decade now, celebrating wooden excellence and naming the most impressive trunks in the country. The awards look for interesting history, age and quality when assessing who to name as the annual champion, and there’s a couple of crackers looking to take the title this year.

From a huge hollow trunk frequented by Queen Elizabeth I to a deformed ancient oak used as a waypoint by locals in the sixteenth century, these plants aren’t just wood and greenery; they’re connections to our past, valuable living pieces of history. They’re also really cool. 

All the shortlisted trees for Tree of the Year 2024

There are 12 behemoths shortlisted this year, each with their own interesting story. Here’s the full list of nominees, as well as a quick fact about them:

• Queen Elizabeth Oak, West Sussex: Elizabeth I stood behind this on a hunting trip. 1,000 years old.
• Darwin Oak, Shropshire: Was, and still is, near the childhood home of Charles Darwin. 550 years old. 
• Gregynog Oak, Powys: In a very old forest and surrounded by impressive scenery. 500 years old.
• Bowthorpe Oak, Lincolnshire: Hollow trunk so large tea parties were held there. 1,000 years old.
• Capon Oak, Scottish Borders: Last survivor from an ancient Scottish forest, used as a landmark throughout the sixteenth century. 700-1,000 years old.
• King John Oak, Sparkford, Somerset: Nearby school was founded by a bishop in 1519 – the tree was already 500 years old. 1,000 years old.
• Marton Oak, Cheshire: ‘One of the oldest and fattest oaks in the UK’, in the words of the woodland trust. Not very kind. 1,200 years old.
• Tea Party Oak, Suffolk: Local children held parties below its branches in the early 20th century. 700 years old.
• The Michael, Midlothian: Hybrid tree, descended from multiple types of oak. 1,000 years old.
• Castle Archdale Oak, Co. Fermanagh: Survived a castle nearby being build, captured, and burned. 400 years old.
• Skipinnish Oak, Highlands: There’s something magical about this one – those who visit it report feeling ‘enchanted’. 400 years old.
• Elephant Oak, Hampshire: Interesting appearance, looks like it’s tied itself in knots. 150 years old.

You can vote for your favourite here, with the polls closing on October 21, so you’ve got loads of time to really ponder who deserves your ballot. You could even go and visit a few and bring along some of your internet arborist friends and make a day of it. Who says naturalists don’t know how to have fun?

Getting (Time) Out and About

Trees aren’t the only thing to appreciate in the British countryside. Have you ever tried any of these campsites, or these stunning hikes? We’ve also got roundups of our favourite natural wonders that the UK has to offer, as well as some lovely places to go wild swimming (sans the sewage). 

Did you see that more than 45 museums in Scotland could close in the next year?

Plus: You’ll soon be able to get from the UK to Venice with just two trains

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