A Rutland oak tree, bearing the scars of a direct hit from a World War Two Lancaster bomber, is among the ten contenders for this year's prestigious Tree of the Year award. The Woodland Trust's annual competition highlights the nation's most resilient and historically significant trees, drawing attention to their unique stories and the importance of their preservation.
Known as the 'Bomber Oak', the tree displays a distinct dip in its canopy and twisted branches, a permanent reminder of the wartime collision. Its survival against such odds, and later against a water company's development plans, makes it a compelling nominee. Actor and nature podcaster David Oakes, a Woodland Trust ambassador, praised the nominees for having 'defied the odds in extraordinary ways'.
The shortlist features a diverse range of trees from across the UK. Among them is the Crowhurst Yew in Surrey, believed to be around 4,000 years old, which famously survived a Civil War cannonball strike – the projectile discovered by villagers centuries later. Another notable entry is the 'Preston Twin' in Brighton, considered the world's oldest English elm, which has endured four centuries despite the devastating impact of Dutch elm disease on nearby specimens.
Other shortlisted trees include the Bollihope Burn Birch in County Durham, clinging precariously to a cliff in a former industrial landscape, and a plucky yew in Devon, growing atop a church tower overlooking Culmstock Village for two centuries. The public also selected two wildcard entries: the Donnington Oak in West Berkshire, which stood firm during the English Civil War siege of Donnington Castle, and the Balloch Castle ash by Loch Lomond, which has survived lightning, storms, ash dieback, and even an Oasis concert.
May Chemais, who manages the Ancient Tree Inventory at the Woodland Trust, emphasised the dual qualities of trees: 'Trees can be both tough and flexible, as the shortlist proves.' The competition not only celebrates these individual arboreal heroes but also underscores the broader need to protect and appreciate the UK's ancient and vulnerable tree populations, many of which face ongoing threats from disease, development, and climate change.