A wych elm in Newcastle, County Down, known as the “bendy” or near-horizontal tree, has been crowned UK Tree of the Year. The Woodland Trust’s annual competition names the tree as the winner after a public poll.
Outlets describe the elm’s distinctive form as the result of long-term, strong seaside winds from the Irish Sea acting over about 150 years. The tree is also portrayed as having survived pressures such as storms, disease and development. The Guardian calls it “astonishing and bizarre,” emphasizing its sideways growth, while the London Evening Standard notes it is the first tree from Northern Ireland to take the top spot in the competition.
RTE similarly reports the same location and that organisers announced the win. Together, the coverage focuses on the tree’s unusual shape, its survival through environmental stresses, and the milestone for Northern Ireland in the competition.
