The Trust would like to thank everyone who voted in the ‘European Tree of the Year’ competition for a Scots pine at a Trust reserve following the results being announced.
‘Lady’s Tree’ at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve finished ninth despite receiving twice as many votes as last year’s entry from Scotland. The Scots pine is the summer home of Europe’s oldest breeding osprey, known affectionately by many as Lady, and was the winner of Scottish Tree of the Year competition organised by the Woodland Trust Scotland and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. It came ninth, with 4,193 votes.
An oak tree in the middle of a football pitch in Estonia has been awarded the title of European Tree of the Year 2015. The oak tree in Orissaare, a coastal resort in western Estonia, became a part of a playing field after two Soviet tractors were unable to pull it over in 1951. Since then generations of footballers have learned to skilfully pass the ball around its trunk. The tree was nominated for the competition by the Estonian Chamber of Arborists and received nearly 60,000 votes.
Nottingham’s Major Oak, reputed to be Robin Hood’s hiding place, came in sixth place with 9,941 votes. The Lonely Tree of Llanfyllin in Wales was tenth with 1,548 votes.
Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jonny Hughes, said: “The famous Scots pine at the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre and Wildlife Reserve did not manage to win the top prize, but through this competition we have managed to tell the success story of osprey conservation.
“It is a really busy time for the Scottish Wildlife Trust as we eagerly wait to see if this tree’s resident, the female osprey known as ‘Lady’, returns to Loch of the Lowes for an amazing 25th year.
“The Scottish Wildlife Trust would urge people to keep an eye on the nest by visiting scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/ospreycam as her possible return is getting closer by the day.
“The Scottish Wildlife Trust would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for ‘Lady’s Tree’, players of People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting this competition and the Woodland Trust Scotland for being great partners in the bid to win European Tree of the Year. On behalf of the Scottish Wildlife Trust, I would like to congratulate the Estonian Chamber of Arborists and the winning oak tree in Orissaare.”
Director of the Woodland Trust Scotland, Carol Evans, said: “European Tree of the Year is a celebration of the continent’s best loved trees. With more than 180,000 votes cast in the contest this year it’s certainly shown that there is a huge amount of support out there.
“I’d like to thank everyone who got behind Scotland’s entry including supporters of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and players of People are Postcode Lottery, and offer a big congratulations to the amazing people of Estonia who have demonstrated a great deal of love for their cultural and natural heritage by securing so many votes.
“Even though we finished ninth we’ve doubled Scotland’s vote compared to 2014 and finished second in the ‘Six Nations’, a feat our rugby team would be very proud of! I’m looking forward to starting the search for the nation’s next entry through Scottish Tree of the Year in a few months’ time.”