Latest news with #EuropeanTreeoftheYear
The Herald Scotland
02-08-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
LEZ and the problem with Glasgow's trees plan
Fair enough I guess, although I have a few questions. Firstly, why only 28 trees? More please. Secondly, why put the trees in planters, which make them more prone to disease and death and restrict their growth? Why not plant them in the ground instead? And thirdly, why not commit all of the money from LEZ into environmental projects? Some £732,000 from the fines has been spent on community projects but the LEZ raised more than £1m in the first 10 months alone which means some of the money, to which I've contributed a bob or two, is going elsewhere. Where exactly? The Glasgow trees also raise one or two bigger questions, I think, about the role trees are, or aren't, playing in urban regeneration and environmental policy more generally. An impression has grown up that we can offset our carbon emissions by planting lots of trees (including putting 28 trees in planters) but as The Herald reported the other day, a new report in Nature Geoscience suggests tree-planting can only remove a small amount of the carbon that humans put into the air. In other words, we are too dirty for our trees to fix. Read more The most notorious building in Glasgow: a way forward Glasgow's rubbish-bin millions: where has the money gone? 'Get it up ye Sturgeon!' The new front in the trans war Glasgow City Council's policy on trees is also a bit confused. As I reported a few weeks ago, some old trees such as the 50-year-old hornbeam on the corner of Argyle Street and Finnieston Street are being cut down to make way for development (usually flats) because the council in Glasgow – unlike councils in other cities such as Bristol – does not prioritise the protection of mature trees in its planning. Old trees are a pain in the butt for developers who want to get their buildings up fast and cheap and the council in Glasgow has generally been letting them get away with it. This is despite the fact that we know how much Glaswegians care about their trees. There was a campaign to save the Finnieston hornbeam, a campaign that was ignored sadly. You may also be familiar with the tree a little bit further bit up the road: the famous Argyle Street ash. It's been nominated this year for The Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year competition and may go forward to the European Tree of the Year where worldwide tree fame surely awaits. But if I may, I'd like to nominate another of Glasgow's wonderful urban trees: the Paisley Road West sycamore, just across from Harvie Street (that's the tree in the picture above). It's one of a number of sycamores dotted along that rowdy and rambunctious road and every one of them is a joy, a reason to stop, the street's green and glorious punctuation. And even though most of the time, like everyone else, I take them for granted, every now and again I see them like they're new and I love them officially because I'm told they reduce the 'Urban Heat Island Effect' (i.e. they cool the city down) but really I love them because they make me feel good. LEZ fines are funding new trees (Image: Newsquest) So yes: the trees in Glasgow matter and it's good the council has adopted a strategy that aims to increase their number over the next ten years and it's good that it has already made a start, planting some 20,000 in Castlemilk, Tollcross and other places, and it's good that they put 28 trees in planters at various points around the city (it would have been better if they'd put them in the ground but heh ho). But also I'm tempted to say that the problem with Glasgow's tree plan is that they are not the trees that really matter. The trees that really matter are the ones that aren't there, by which I mean the woodland that could and should cover large parts of Scotland but doesn't. It's undoubtedly a good idea that we plant more trees in Glasgow and other cities, but what we're not doing properly is the countryside. There are some excellent rewilding projects out there, including the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust's plans for Dalnacardoch in the Cairngorms, of which I'm a supporter when I'm not having to pay LEZ fines. But most of Scotland's countryside was damaged and denuded by industry and Empire and war and is still being damaged and denuded by what they call sport (by which they mean shooting birds, legally and illegally) and by sheep of course. And deer. As far as you can see. I remember the moment I really understood it for the first time. I was up in Alladale, about an hour's drive north of Inverness, visiting Paul Lister, the man who wants to reintroduce wolves in Scotland, and he pointed to the hills and glens and asked me what I thought of it all. I think I used some cheesy words like "beautiful" or "iconic" but the words he used were "messed up" because the hills and glens we think are beautiful have actually been stripped bare. "This should all be big forest," said Mr Lister indicating the landscape in front of us and suddenly, I could see it, and the whole of Scotland really, in a different way. He's right. It should be forest. But it's not. Where are all the trees? And when can we fix it?
Belfast Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland ‘peace tree' in running to become UK's Tree of the Year
Voting opens today and the winner will be announced in September, going on to compete in the European Tree of the Year finals. Ten trees have been chosen under the theme 'Rooted in Culture', which seeks to highlight how trees inspire creative minds and become ingrained in the cultural landscape. Woodland Trust patron Dame Judi Dench said: 'Our oldest trees hold more stories than Shakespeare; some were putting down roots long before he began writing, more than 400 years ago.' Who is Rory McIlroy and what is golf's Career Grand Slam? A panel of experts selected nine of the nomonees, while the public chose a wildcard entry. The Tree of Peace and Unity at the Dunadry Hotel near Antrim town — a lime formed of two trees that grew together into a single trunk — became a symbol of reconciliation when Tony Blair, John Hume and David Trimble sat under it during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations in 1998. Meanwhile, a 300-year-old cedar in Chiswick was used as a backdrop in The Beatles' video for Rain in 1966. And the Knole Park Oak in Kent, thought to be Britain's tallest at 135ft, made the list as it's believed to have inspired an epic poem in Woolf's novel Orlando. Elsewhere, the Argyle Street Ash gets a nod. It was referred to as 'quite the most graceful ash I have seen' by James Cowan in his 1935 book From Glasgow's Treasure Chest. Also in the running are the Borrowdale Yews in Cumbria, a huddle of ancient trees described by William Wordsworth in a 1803 poem. The King of Limbs in Wiltshire made the list after Radiohead named their 2011 album after the ancient oak. As did the Lollipop Tree on Salisbury Plain, which is seen in the final scenes of Sam Mendes's World War One film 1917. Also nominated was the Lonely Tree in Llanberis in Wales, which features in Netflix's upcoming series of The Witcher. Voting is open until September 19 via the Woodland Trust website.
South Wales Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Cedar climbed by Beatles and oak in Woolf poem among Tree of the Year nominees
Voting opens on Friday 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.' A panel of experts selected nine trees of differing ages and species for the shortlist, while the public chose a 10th as a wildcard entry. This year, David Treanor, from Glasgow, put forward the 'Argyle Street Ash', pointing to its reference in James Cowan's 1935 book, From Glasgow's Treasure Chest, as 'quite the most graceful ash I have seen'. The shortlist also includes the Borrowdale Yews in Cumbria – a huddle of ancient trees described by William Wordsworth in his 1803 poem 'Yew Trees'. The Beatles' cedar tree in Chiswick, which is around 300 years old, was nominated given that the band perched on one of its low-swooping boughs in a video for their song Rain in 1966. The King of Limbs in Wiltshire made the list after Radiohead named their 2011 album after the ancient oak, which they spotted when recording at nearby Tottenham House. Also nominated is the Tree of Peace and Unity in County Antrim, Northern Ireland – a lime formed of two trees that grew together into a single trunk and became a symbol of reconciliation when leaders met there in 1998 at the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The nominated Lollipop Tree on Salisbury Plain played a starring role in the final scenes of Sam Mendes's First World War film 1917 and the Lonely Tree in Llanberis, Wales, may feature in Netflix's upcoming series of The Witcher. And the Knole Park Oak in Kent, thought to be Britain's tallest at 135 feet, made the list as the tree believed to have inspired an epic poem in Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando. Voting is open until September 19 via the Woodland Trust website, with a winner to be announced on September 26. Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, which is supporting the competition, said: 'These trees have witnessed key moments in history, provided solace to war poets, been a supporting artist in a blockbuster film, and inspire reflection and creative photography as the seasons change.' 'We're looking forward to seeing which one the public votes as the winning tree'.
North Wales Chronicle
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Cedar climbed by Beatles and oak in Woolf poem among Tree of the Year nominees
Voting opens on Friday 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.' A panel of experts selected nine trees of differing ages and species for the shortlist, while the public chose a 10th as a wildcard entry. This year, David Treanor, from Glasgow, put forward the 'Argyle Street Ash', pointing to its reference in James Cowan's 1935 book, From Glasgow's Treasure Chest, as 'quite the most graceful ash I have seen'. The shortlist also includes the Borrowdale Yews in Cumbria – a huddle of ancient trees described by William Wordsworth in his 1803 poem 'Yew Trees'. The Beatles' cedar tree in Chiswick, which is around 300 years old, was nominated given that the band perched on one of its low-swooping boughs in a video for their song Rain in 1966. The King of Limbs in Wiltshire made the list after Radiohead named their 2011 album after the ancient oak, which they spotted when recording at nearby Tottenham House. Also nominated is the Tree of Peace and Unity in County Antrim, Northern Ireland – a lime formed of two trees that grew together into a single trunk and became a symbol of reconciliation when leaders met there in 1998 at the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The nominated Lollipop Tree on Salisbury Plain played a starring role in the final scenes of Sam Mendes's First World War film 1917 and the Lonely Tree in Llanberis, Wales, may feature in Netflix's upcoming series of The Witcher. And the Knole Park Oak in Kent, thought to be Britain's tallest at 135 feet, made the list as the tree believed to have inspired an epic poem in Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando. Voting is open until September 19 via the Woodland Trust website, with a winner to be announced on September 26. Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, which is supporting the competition, said: 'These trees have witnessed key moments in history, provided solace to war poets, been a supporting artist in a blockbuster film, and inspire reflection and creative photography as the seasons change.' 'We're looking forward to seeing which one the public votes as the winning tree'.
South Wales Argus
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Cedar climbed by Beatles and oak in Woolf poem among Tree of the Year nominees
Voting opens on Friday 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. The cedar climbed by The Beatles in Chiswick (Woodland Trust) 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.' The Tree of Peace and Unity in Northern Ireland (Dunadry Hotel and Gardens) A panel of experts selected nine trees of differing ages and species for the shortlist, while the public chose a 10th as a wildcard entry. This year, David Treanor, from Glasgow, put forward the 'Argyle Street Ash', pointing to its reference in James Cowan's 1935 book, From Glasgow's Treasure Chest, as 'quite the most graceful ash I have seen'. The shortlist also includes the Borrowdale Yews in Cumbria – a huddle of ancient trees described by William Wordsworth in his 1803 poem 'Yew Trees'. One of the ancient yews that inspired William Wordsworth (James Reader) The Beatles' cedar tree in Chiswick, which is around 300 years old, was nominated given that the band perched on one of its low-swooping boughs in a video for their song Rain in 1966. The King of Limbs in Wiltshire made the list after Radiohead named their 2011 album after the ancient oak, which they spotted when recording at nearby Tottenham House. Also nominated is the Tree of Peace and Unity in County Antrim, Northern Ireland – a lime formed of two trees that grew together into a single trunk and became a symbol of reconciliation when leaders met there in 1998 at the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. The Knole House oak that may have inspired Virginia Woolf (Lee Cooper) The nominated Lollipop Tree on Salisbury Plain played a starring role in the final scenes of Sam Mendes's First World War film 1917 and the Lonely Tree in Llanberis, Wales, may feature in Netflix's upcoming series of The Witcher. And the Knole Park Oak in Kent, thought to be Britain's tallest at 135 feet, made the list as the tree believed to have inspired an epic poem in Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando. Voting is open until September 19 via the Woodland Trust website, with a winner to be announced on September 26. The Lollipop Tree that features in Sam Mendes's film 1917 (Lee Cooper) Laura Chow, head of charities at People's Postcode Lottery, which is supporting the competition, said: 'These trees have witnessed key moments in history, provided solace to war poets, been a supporting artist in a blockbuster film, and inspire reflection and creative photography as the seasons change.' 'We're looking forward to seeing which one the public votes as the winning tree'.
