Wildcard entry wins Tree of the Year 2025

Glasgow's "Argyle Street Ash" has been crowned Tree of the Year 2025.

The tree was named the winner of the Woodland Trust's competition after several weeks of public voting.

It wasn't originally on the shortlist put forward by experts, who selected nine trees of differing ages and species for the shortlist.

In fact that the Argyle Ash was only added after being nominated by the public as a 10th wildcard entry.

In the end the tree, which is found on one of the Scottish city's busiest roads, pulled in the most votes.

It was put forward by David Treanor - an arborist from Glasgow who has been managing the tree in recent years.

This year's theme was 'rooted in culture', chosen to celebrate how trees shape the cultural landscape in literature, music, poetry and art.

Mr Treanor was able to demonstrate this is something the Argyle Ash had, by showing it was mentioned in a book called Glasgow's Treasure Chest written back in 1951.

In it journalist James Cowan describes the Argyle Street tree as "quite the most graceful ash I have seen".

This quote is also in a frame and on the wall in the pub which is opposite the tree.

The Argyle Ash narrowly beat the King of Limbs oak tree in Wiltshire

As the winner of the competition, the ash will now go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals in early 2026.

In second place was a "King of Limbs" oak that inspired an album by the rock band Radiohead.

It was followed by a "Lonely Tree", which sits on the edge of the Llyn Padarn lake in North Wales, and an ancient "Lady Jane Grey Oak" in Leicester's Bradgate Park.

A majestic cedar with low-sweeping boughs where The Beatles were photographed at London's Chiswick House, completed the top five in the rankings.

This is known as the Lonely Tree on the edge of the Llyn Padarn lake in North Wales

Adam Cormack head of campaigning at the Woodland Trust said that the response from the public to the Argyle Street Ash shows that "trees really matter to people".

He added: "Trees inspire us to write stories and create art, whilst connecting us to cultural legacies and a sense of place.

"We encourage people to notice and enjoy the trees around them, and learn more about how they benefit us - from boosting biodiversity and well-being, to mitigating the effects of climate change."