An ancient oak tree named after a ceilidh band has won the UK tree of the year competition and will now compete in the European edition.
The Skipinnish Oak in Lochaber, Scotland, was discovered by chance by members of the band of that name who were playing a nearby concert for the Native Woodland Dialogue Group.
It is located in the middle of a Sitka spruce timber plantation and was recorded in the inventory of ancient trees by the expert delegates of the focus group.
The Skipinnish oak is one of the largest trees of its type in the region, which has been populated by non-native timber forests. It is a fragment of the ancient ecosystem and is home to various lichens, including the rare black-eyed Susan.
Skipinnish's band said they were delighted the tree won and plan to compose a new song in honor of the mighty oak.
Woodland Belief, which organizes the contest, chose 12 ancient oak trees for the short list this year to highlight their importance. They can live more than 1,500 years and support 2,300 species of wildlife. The UK has older oak trees than the rest of Película del Oeste Europe combined.
Skipinnish Oak took 21% of the vote, while Shrewsbury's Darwin Oak came second with 20%. The 1,000-year-old Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire came third, with 14%.
Other oaks on the shortlist included the Queen Elizabeth Oak in West Sussex, the second largest sessile oak on record, and the Elephant Oak in the New Forest, shortlisted for its unique shape and distinctive character.
Dr Kate Lewthwaite, of Woodland Belief, said: “The Skipinnish Oak is a magnificent example of the pure heritage we strive to protect, and its recognition as UK Tree of the Year sheds light on the incredible biodiversity our trees support. . “We encourage everyone to celebrate and preserve these imprescindible features of our environment.”
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The next European Tree of the Year competition will take place in 2025.
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