ShortList is supported by you, our amazing readers. When you click through the links on our site and make a purchase we may earn a commission. Learn more

The 'Tree of the Year' finalists are all better looking than you

Is that a gun in your pocket, or are just pleased to see tree?

The 'Tree of the Year' finalists are all better looking than you
12 September 2017

I don’t know about you, but I like a good gander at a majestic tree now and again. Nothing like a big, gnarled tree towering over me, being all old and noble and magnificent. But I always wondered: why isn’t there a competition to find the best tree? I can’t decide for myself which is my favourite one, but an officially-judged awards ceremony would do that for me quite nicely.

Lucky then, that there actually is a competition to discover Europe’s most fancy tree. And it’s called European Tree Of The Year 2017.

Woodland Trust chief executive Beccy Speight said:

“Once again the public has nominated many fantastic trees with truly inspirational stories, which highlight how intrinsic they can become in peoples’ lives. It’s a reminder of why we need to care for individual trees and that they still need true protection in law from development or mismanagement.”

Winners (as in the trees) will get £1,000 to spend on helping maintain themselves, and I guess for other tree things like hair wax to keep their leaves on fleek.

But before the European Championships, we gotta crown the UK’s best tree, and it’s a crowded field (pun so intended it hurts). Just check out some of these glorious green giants:

The Weeping Tree, in Paupers’ Graveyard, Newry, County Down 

The Weeping Tree, Paupers’ Graveyard, Newry, County Down (Michael Cooper/WTML/PA Wire)

The Giant Redwood, in Llangattock Llangattock, Powys 

The Giant Redwood, in Llangattock Llangattock, Powys (WTML/ Mark Zytynski)

The Fairy House Tree in the grounds of Treffos Independent School, Llansadwrn, Anglesey

The Fairy House Tree in the grounds of Treffos Independent School, Llansadwrn, Anglesey (WTML/ Huw Humphreys)

The Pulpit Yew, in Nantglyn Nantglyn, Denbighshire

The Pulpit Yew, Nantglyn Nantglyn, Denbighshire (WTML/ Mark Zytynski)

Stratton Strawless Cedar, in East Anglia

Stratton Strawless Cedar, East Anglia (WTML/ David Woodcock)

Crowhurst Yew, nr. Hastings, East Sussex

Crowhurst Yew, nr. Hastings, East Sussex (WTML/ Julian Hight)

Derriford’s Plymouth Pear, in Devon

Derriford’s Plymouth Pear, Devon (WTML/ Julian Hight)

The College Tree, in Foyle College/Londonderry High School, Derry-Londonderry

The College Tree, Foyle College/Londonderry High School, Derry-Londonderry (WTML/ Michael Cooper)

The Big Tree, in Kirkwall, Orkney

The Big Tree, in Kirkwall, Orkney (WTML/ Mark Ferguson)

Meavy Royal Oak, nr. Yelverton, Dartmoor

Meavy Royal Oak, nr. Yelverton, Dartmoor (WTML/ Julian Hight)

The Courageous Tree, in Coniston, Cumbria

The Courageous Tree, Coniston, Cumbria (WTML/ Cumbrias Top 50 Trees)

The Hollow Tree, in Gnoll Country Park, Neath Port Talbot 

The Hollow Tree in Gnoll Country Park, Neath Port Talbot (WTML/ Mark Zytynski)

If you fancy voting yourself, you tree-hugger, you, then head on over here and get clicking…

Right, I’m off home now, which coincidentally is actually also in a tree, after I accidentally broke my flatmate’s PS4. Need things to simmer down before going back there.

(Images: WTML)