A 150-year-old Wych elm located in Newcastle, County Down, secured the title for this year’s tree of the year competition. This specific Wych elm tree in Newcastle, County Down, successfully resisted the spread of Dutch elm disease.
The tree was initially planted in the mid-19th century within Newcastle, County Down. May Chemais, ancient tree inventory lead for the Woodland Trust, noted, “When you look at this astonishing and bizarre tree, there’s no doubt about what it has endured.”
John Martin, director of the Woodland Trust NI, observed that while people expect trees to grow upwards, this particular specimen developed sideways. Beyond the Wych elm, other notable trees demonstrate remarkable resilience; the Crowhurst Yew in Surrey, England, had its trunk hollowed out in 1820.
Furthermore, the roof of the parish meeting room at the Crowhurst Yew collapsed during a storm in 1845. The Culmstock Yew in Culmstock, Devon, England, remains situated atop a church tower that reaches twenty metres in height.
The Woodland Trust also initiated its Igniting Innovation competition, inviting entries from individuals aged sixteen to twenty-five. Three winners of this competition will receive £5,000 in funding alongside up to a year of expert mentoring.
