The Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year 2025 competition features ten nominees celebrating rare, ancient, or at-risk trees across the UK, focusing on cultural significance. Voting begins on Friday, with the winner announced in September. The competition's theme, rooted in culture, highlights how trees inspire creativity. Notable nominees include the Beatles' Cedar Tree in Chiswick and the Argyle Street Ash in Glasgow, mentioned in a 1935 book. Judi Dench emphasizes the heritage value of ancient trees, referring to their enduring stories and connections to literature. Public voting included a wildcard entry.
The Beatles' Cedar Tree in Chiswick, west London, which is about 300 years old, was nominated because the band perched on one of its low-swooping boughs in a video for their song Rain in 1966.
Judi Dench, 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.
Ten nominees 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 the cultural landscape.
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.
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