Love, war and protest: How UK’s Tree of the Year grew into celebration of nature – and untold British stories

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. What started life in 2014 as a seemingly niche talking shop for self-confessed “tree geeks” has, it seems, been transformed – oak-from-acorn style – into a hugely popular celebration of the UK’s green cathedrals. They have a lifespan that we can comprehend but which also stretches back into history, and there is something about them that makes them feel central to our existence.” open image in gallery Dave McCabe’s sapling is now a magnificent 40ft spruce At its simplest, the competition sees the Woodland Trust draw up a shortlist of candidates from across the country, with the winner then decided in a public vote. “But by giving those specific trees a bit of time in the spotlight, you hopefully encourage people to think more generally about trees, about what they mean and why conservation is so important.” open image in gallery Nellie’s Tree in Aberford, West Yorkshire It was protection that, in some way, led to the competition’s creation. open image in gallery The Sycamore Gap Tree in Northumberland The Woodland Trust itself has now created an Ancient Tree Index to record the UK’s oldest specimens, while it uses the publicity generated by Tree of the Year each summer to call for better official protection.