Bendy wych elm in Northern Ireland wins UK Tree of the Year

A 150-year-old wych elm in Newcastle, County Down, has been named the UK Tree of the Year. Known as the ‘Bendy Tree’ due to its near-horizontal trunk, the specimen earned the title in a public poll organized by the Woodland Trust.

The tree’s growth pattern was shaped by extreme coastal winds from the Irish Sea. It is the first tree from Northern Ireland to win the annual competition, which this year focused on the theme ‘Against all odds.’ Beyond surviving coastal gusts, the elm has resisted Dutch elm disease, a fungus that has decimated much of the UK’s elm population.

Originally planted in the mid-19th century as part of a seaside promenade, the Bendy Tree is the last remaining elm from its original row following various redevelopments. It received 30 per cent of the public vote, surpassing other finalists such as the Crowhurst Yew and the Balloch Castle ash.