Rooting for Britain's champion trees

A CEDAR tree climbed by The Beatles, an oak that may have inspired Virginia Woolf, and a lime representing peace in Northern Ireland are among those shortlisted for Tree of the Year 2025.

- REBECCA SPEARE-COLE

Voting has opened for the Woodland Trust's annual competition, which aims to celebrate and raise awareness for rare, ancient or at-risk trees across the country.

The winner will be announced in September and will progress to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals.

Ten nominees from across the country have been chosen to meet this year’s theme of ‘Rooted in Culture’ which seeks to highlight how trees inspire creative minds and become ingrained in our cultural landscape.

As voting kicks off, Dame Judi Dench, who is patron of the Woodland Trust, said: "Our oldest trees hold more stories than Shakespeare; some were putting down roots long before he began writing, more than 400 years ago.

"They are as much part of our heritage as any literature.

"I hope you will join me in voting."