THE shortlist for the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year 2019 has been announced.

The annual competition seeks to highlight and celebrate the best trees in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the public voting on a winner for each country. The winner for each category will be put to a panel of experts, who will then select one of the four trees to go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year competition.

The Allerton Oak, which resides in Calderstones Park in Allerton, Liverpool is one of ten trees representing England in the competition. According to legend, in medieval times the local court, known as a ‘Hundred Court’ would meet under the branches of the tree, as they lacked a courthouse. Another legend states that the large crack down the side of the tree was formed in 1864 when the Lotty Sleigh, a ship carrying 11 tonnes of gunpowder, exploded. The ensuing shockwave smashed thousands of windows through Liverpool and was heard over 30 miles away. Today the tree is fenced off to protect it, and its heavy boughs are supported by metal poles.

Forestry Journal: Last Ent of Affric (Image: Niall Benvie/WTML)Last Ent of Affric (Image: Niall Benvie/WTML)

An ancient elm tree, the only one of its kind in Glen Affric, is among the Scottish nominees. The tree, whose size of its trunk suggests it is over 300 years old, stood, long forgotten until a site visit in 20219 by local staff of Forestry and Land Scotland and Trees for Life.

Forestry Journal: Brooke Park, Londonderry (Image: Michael Cooper/WTML)Brooke Park, Londonderry (Image: Michael Cooper/WTML)

The Nobbly Tree of Brooke Park, Londonderry was gifted to the Gwyn & Young Charitable Institution from the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens in 1851. The institution was set up in the 1830s at the bequest of wealthy linen merchant John Gwyn, and then later bequest from another merchant, Joseph Young. They wanted their considerable fortunes to be used to care for the orphans and poor children of Derry.

An area of parkland was purchased and a school building constructed, and some 10 years later, this plane tree was planted.

Forestry Journal: (Image: Mark Zytynski/WTML)(Image: Mark Zytynski/WTML)

Prisk Wood is a very special ancient woodland in the care of the Gwent Wildlife Trust and situated on a steep slope above the River Wye. A striking feature is the mass of mosses, liverworts and ferns which carpet boulders, tree stumps and fallen tree trunks. Within this wood stands a magnificent pollarded lime tree with a large crown producing many flowers for bees. It is said that limes were favoured in the Wye Valley as there was a rope making factory next to the river.

For the full shortlist, visit the Woodland Trust website here. Voting is open until noon on 27 September 2019 and you can only vote for one tree in each country.