Bendy elm still standing against all odds crowned UK tree of the year
Summary
The Bendy Tree, a 150-year-old wych elm in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, has won the UK’s Tree of the Year competition. The tree is notable for its unusual sideways growth caused by strong seaside winds and its resistance to Dutch elm disease, which has killed many other elms in the UK.Key Facts
- The Bendy Tree is located in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland.
- Its trunk grows nearly horizontally because of strong winds from the Irish Sea.
- It is about 150 years old, planted in the mid-19th century along a promenade.
- The tree has survived Dutch elm disease, a fungus that has destroyed most of the UK's 30 million elm trees.
- It is the last remaining tree from the original row that sheltered the town’s main street.
- The tree provides shade and benefits the local community by supporting wellbeing and bringing pride.
- Other notable trees in the competition included the Crowhurst Yew in Surrey and the Culmstock Yew in Devon.
- The Woodland Trust runs the competition and has launched a new contest to support young people’s ideas for nature projects.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
