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See the Glasgow tree shortlisted for UK Tree of the Year

See the Glasgow tree shortlisted for UK Tree of the Year

The National10-07-2025
Known as the Argyle Street Ash, the Glasgow tree was nominated by local resident David Treanor, who noted its description in James Cowan's 1935 book From Glasgow's Treasure Chest as "quite the most graceful ash I have seen".
This year's competition theme, 'Rooted in Culture,' seeks to spotlight trees that have inspired artistic expression or have become embedded in local heritage. A total of 10 trees from across the UK have been shortlisted.
READ MORE: Scotland's volcanic landscape mystery solved by scientists with 'extraordinary' find
Voting for the award opens on Friday, July 11, with the winner to be announced on September 26. The chosen tree will go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest.
Other contenders include a cedar tree in Chiswick famously climbed by The Beatles in a 1966 music video, a yew grove in Cumbria celebrated in a poem by William Wordsworth, and the Tree of Peace and Unity in County Antrim, a lime formed from two trees which became symbolic during the Good Friday Agreement.
Also among the finalists are the King of Limbs oak in Wiltshire, which inspired the title of a Radiohead album, the so-called Lollipop Tree featured in the final scene of 1917, and the Knole Park Oak in Kent, thought to be the tallest in Britain and linked to Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando.
Dame Judi Dench, patron of the Woodland Trust, has encouraged public participation in the vote.
'Our oldest trees hold more stories than Shakespeare,' she said.
READ MORE: Historic Scottish hotel to be transformed following major hotelier purchase
'They are as much a part of our heritage as any literature. I hope you will join me in voting.'
The competition, supported by the People's Postcode Lottery, aims to raise awareness of the importance of ancient, rare, and culturally significant trees.
Laura Chow, head of charities at the lottery, said the shortlisted trees have 'witnessed key moments in history' and continue to inspire reflection and creativity.
Public voting remains open until September 19 via the Woodland Trust's website.
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A new Irish writer is getting rave reviews – but nobody knows who they are. That gives me hope
A new Irish writer is getting rave reviews – but nobody knows who they are. That gives me hope

The Guardian

time5 days ago

  • The Guardian

A new Irish writer is getting rave reviews – but nobody knows who they are. That gives me hope

What's in a pen name? Irish writer Liadan Ní Chuinn's debut short story collection, Every One Still Here, is receiving rave reviews and rapturous praise, but hardly anyone seems to know who they are. A cursory Google turns up no photos or biographical information. All we know is that the writer is Northern Irish and was born in 1998, the year of the Good Friday agreement. A statement from Irish publisher The Stinging Fly reads: 'The Stinging Fly has been working with Liadan on these stories for the past four years. From early on in the process, they expressed a desire to publish their work under a pseudonym and to protect their privacy throughout the publication process. No photographs of the author are available and Liadan will not be participating in any in-person interviews or public events.' Writing anonymously or under a pseudonym is a long-established custom in publishing. 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