An ancient oak named after a ceilidh band has won the UK’s 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 gig for the Native Woodland Discussion Group.
It is in the middle of a sitka spruce timber plantation and expert delegates from the discussion group registered it in the ancient tree inventory.
The Skipinnish oak is one of the largest trees of its kind in the region, which has been populated by nonnative timber forests. It is a fragment of the ancient ecosystem, and provides a home to diverse lichens including the rare black-eyed Susan.
The Skipinnish band said they were delighted the tree won and plan to compose a new song in honour of the mighty oak.
The Woodland Trust, which runs the competition, chose 12 ancient oaks for the shortlist this year to highlight their importance. They can live for more than 1,500 years and support 2,300 species of wildlife. The UK boasts more ancient oaks than the rest of western Europe combined.
The Skipinnish Oak won 21% of the vote, while the Darwin Oak in Shrewsbury came second with 20%. The 1,000-year-old Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire came in 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 from the Woodland Trust said: “The Skipinnish Oak is a magnificent example of the natural heritage we strive to protect, and its recognition as UK tree of the year shines a light on the incredible biodiversity that our trees support. We encourage everyone to celebrate and preserve these vital features of our environment.”
The next European Tree of the Year competition will take place in 2025.