Brits love a good competition. Whether it’s awarding the best curry restaurant in the UK or watching celebrity dance-offs on the telly, there’s something entertaining about pitting the best of the best against each other in a battle for the crown. So are we really surprised that there’s an annual Tree of the Year Awards? Nah, not really.
Held every year by the Woodland Trust, Tree of the Year is a prestigious award that not only celebrates the best, finest and most fascinating trees in the UK but also aims to highlight how vital trees are to our everyday lives. This year’s shortlist (which was revealed back in August) was a battle between a magnificent array of oaks, chestnuts, elms and walnuts across the country, and now a winner has officially been crowned.
The Tree of the Year of 2023 went to a 480-year-old sweet chestnut tree in Acton Park, Wrexham. The resplendent tree is also admirably sturdy, as it not only fought off its competition but it has also withstood the deadliest of storms and firewood collectors over the centuries.
Jack Taylor from the Woodland Trust said: ‘The sweet chestnut in Wrexham’s Acton Park is a symbol of resilience in the city having survived many storms and other threats. This almost 500-year-old giant is celebrated and loved by locals for its beauty and history and it now has the claim to fame of being a Tree of the Year winner. A true icon!’
Second place went to the Crouch Oak tree in Addlestone, Surrey which apparently Queen Elizabeth I picnicked under once. Third place was a sweet chestnut in London’s Greenwich Park.
Previous winners include the much-beloved and recently chopped down Sycamore Gap tree (2016) on Hadrian’s Wall, as well as the ancient Cubbington Pear tree in Warwickshire (2015), which was felled to make way for the HS2 rail line.
The winner will go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year 2024 competition. Good luck on the continent, Wrexham sweet chestnut!
Going green with Time Out
We at Time Out are not only dedicated to providing you with the best of city life, but we’re also massive fans of all stuff outside cities, too. Check out our very green coverage of the loveliest forests near London for wholesome woodland walks, the most breathtaking hikes in the UK and the most beautiful national parks in the UK.
Did you see that this forest has been named the best in the UK?
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