Latest news with #DavidTreanor
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Meet the man who cares for 'lonely' tree on Glasgow's Argyle Street
David Treanor, an arborist and owner of Treewise Urban Forestry, has been responsible for the "Argyle Street Ash" outside the Franklin Terrace tenements for the last five years. The Paisley native has nominated the 75-foot-tall attraction for the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year, making the top 10 shortlist. David Treanor, an arborist and owner of Treewise Urban Forestry pictured with the "Argyle Street Ash "tree outside the Franklin Terrace tenements on Argyle Street in the West End of Glasgow. (Image: Colin Mearns) He explained what inspired him to put the tree forward. David said: "Its location and striking form mean it nearly always leads press coverage with a kind of quiet defiance – standing in the heart of Argyle Street like it always has. "I've looked after the tree for over five years in a professional capacity, carrying out safety inspections and remedial work. "Over time, I noticed it was resisting ash dieback far better than most trees I've encountered. "That led me to dig deeper – both scientifically and historically." Also known as The Lone Tree of Finnieston, the tree was described in James Cowan's 1935 book From Glasgow's Treasure Chest as 'quite the most graceful ash I have seen.' It was the first tree in Glasgow to receive a Tree Preservation Order and is regarded as a symbol of resilience locally, producing greenery and shade in an otherwise grey and urban part of the city. Pat Lilly, and his daughter Louise, pictured in front of the tree (Image: Colin Mearns) Nine other trees from across the UK make up the list, including a sycamore growing at Napier University in Edinburgh, with the "Argyle Street Ash" being put forward by David as the wildcard pick. READ MORE: UK Government announce £39million investment in Renfrewshire A picture of a tree from 1962 (Image: Newsquest) The other nine were selected by a panel of experts. David also opened up on the history of the tree. He continued: "We know that the tree is estimated to be 170 years old meaning it has lived through a fifth of Glasgow's 850 year history "It became clear that this tree has survived the Victorian era, survived Glasgow's 'Age of Smoke,' when coal soot darkened the air and buildings while Glasgow was the second city of the Empire. "It survived the Clydeside Blitz and the 1968 storm when many tenements were destroyed. "It has endured from Trams to Tesla's. In 1980 Glasgow District Council took the step to protect the tree under TPO No.1, Glasgow's very first Tree Preservation Order. "It's been part of so many Glaswegians' everyday lives that people often tell me they can't imagine Argyle Street without it." Locals also expressed their delight at the nomination, reflecting on memories of the tree. One man said: "In the 1970s as a student I'd open my curtains to see the tree every morning and later in life it inspired me to plant more trees across the city." Another said: "Me and my mates always admire the tree when having a few pints at the Park Bar." A third commented: "My parents met under that tree." Another local, Pat Lilly, remembers his grandparents renting the flat when he was a child. Pat added: "I always remember the tree being in my Granny's front garden, and I played there from being a toddler with lots of my cousins. "It's unbelievable that the tree has been selected to be in the running for Tree of the Year, 2025." Voting for the competition opened on Friday, July 11, with the winner being decided in September 19, with the winner going on to represent the UK at the European Tree of the Year finals. You can vote by clicking here.
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Tree of the Year: Why Glasgow's Argyle Street Ash is a beautiful symbol of hope
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In his 1935 book, From Glasgow's Treasure Chest, James Cowan wrote that it was 'quite the most graceful ash I have seen'. Ninety years later, that same tree remains standing strong – despite the devastating ash dieback disease – hard up against a tenement on the city's Argyle Street. And it is still attracting admirers, like consultant arborist David Treanor. He entered it into the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year competition, where it's competing against a cedar climbed by The Beatles, a lime representing peace in Northern Ireland and others in a public vote. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An overhead drone photograph of the ash tree on Glasgow's Argyle Street | Douglas Crawford/Tree Wise Tree Surgeons Writing eloquently in The Scotsman, Treanor said: 'In an era of mounting ecological strain, the symbolism of this lone ash is hard to ignore. It's a survivor. And survival, especially under pressure, matters.' The first modern humans are sometimes said to have been those who 'descended from the trees'. But we've never really left them behind. Studies have suggested woodlands can have a beneficial effect on our mood and perhaps even our health.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Argyle Street Ash nominated for Tree of the Year 2025
AN ash in Scotland's largest city has been shortlisted for the Woodland Trust's annual Tree of the Year competition. 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.
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Tree of the Year: Why Glasgow's Argyle Street Ash is a beautiful symbol of hope
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In his 1935 book, From Glasgow's Treasure Chest, James Cowan wrote that it was 'quite the most graceful ash I have seen'. Ninety years later, that same tree remains standing strong – despite the devastating ash dieback disease – hard up against a tenement on the city's Argyle Street. And it is still attracting admirers, like consultant arborist David Treanor. He entered it into the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year competition, where it's competing against a cedar climbed by The Beatles, a lime representing peace in Northern Ireland and others in a public vote. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad An overhead drone photograph of the ash tree on Glasgow's Argyle Street | Douglas Crawford/Tree Wise Tree Surgeons Writing eloquently in The Scotsman, Treanor said: 'In an era of mounting ecological strain, the symbolism of this lone ash is hard to ignore. It's a survivor. And survival, especially under pressure, matters.' The first modern humans are sometimes said to have been those who 'descended from the trees'. But we've never really left them behind. Studies have suggested woodlands can have a beneficial effect on our mood and perhaps even our health.
The National
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
See the Glasgow tree shortlisted for UK Tree of the Year
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.
