I come bearing some rather tree-mendous news, folks. A large leafy tree in west London is in the running to be named Tree of the Year by the lovely lot over at the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. The London-based tree in question is located in the gorgeously green grounds of Chiswick House and Gardensand has earnt itself a comfy spot on the shortlist, alongside nine other trees across the UK.
Each year, the Woodland Trust scours the length and breadth of the country in search of the best, the biggest and the most beautiful trees. The panel of tree experts choose nine ‘inspirational trees’ of different ages and species, and an additional tree is selected by the public. Those ten UK trees then go head to head branch to branch, and one will be named Tree of the Year.
The theme for this year’s competition is ‘Rooted in Culture’aiming to shine a spotlight on the pivotal role that trees play in the likes of music, film, theatre, and literature. And the enormous evergreen in Chiswick to have made the cut has got a pretty impressive cultural claim to fame.
The Beatles’ Cedar Tree
Known as ‘The Beatles’ Cedar Tree’the shortlisted London tree is of the cedar of Lebanon species, and has roots that date back to the 1720s. Hailed by the Woodland Trust as ‘a stunner in its own right’, the impressive conifer boasts a rather jam-packed CV. It is said to have been admired by the likes of Queen Victoria, the Tsar of Russia and the Shah of Persia. But is best-known for its links to The Beatles. The fab four were seen perched on one of the ancient tree’s branches in two of their music videos; Paperback Writer and Pain. And the colossal conifer also features on the cover of their EP, Nowhere Man.
Other trees to have made the Tree of the Year shortlist include an oak tree that supposedly inspired Virginia Woolf and a beech tree that featured in the final scenes of ‘1917’. Some pretty tough competition, hey?
Find out more about the trees that made the shortlist and vote for your favourite here. Voting closes on September 19 and the winning tree will be announced on September 26.
