What's happened
The wych elm in Newcastle, County Down, has won Woodland Trust’s
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- The Bendy Tree’s victory illustrates a cultural appreciation for resilience and place-based storytelling in environmental issues.
- Its wind-worn shape has become a symbol of adaptation, potentially influencing local conservation attitudes and tourism.
- The piece suggests policy momentum around reforestation in Northern Ireland, aligning with broader UK targets.
What this means for readers: communities may see increased attention on local tree-planting schemes and wellbeing benefits from green spaces.
How we got here
The 150-year-old wych elm in Newcastle's seaside promenade has survived Dutch elm disease and decades of harsh coastal winds. It was part of a row planted in the 19th century to shelter the town, with others felled during redevelopment. The competition, themed “Against All Odds,” has highlighted resilient trees across the UK. The Bendy Tree’s victory underscores ongoing concerns about low woodland cover in Northern Ireland and policy aims to raise cover to 12% by 2050.
Our analysis
BBC reports the public vote outcome and quotes local officials highlighting resilience, while The Guardian emphasizes May Chemais’s observations and the tree’s whimsical shape. Both highlight the tree’s resistance to Dutch elm disease and its role as a community landmark. The Guardian also notes other nominees like the Culmstock Yew and Crowhurst Yew, situating the win within a broader shortlist.
Go deeper
- What other trees were shortlisted and why were they notable?
- How might Northern Ireland’s woodland targets influence local projects?
- What are the health and wellbeing benefits cited for urban trees like the Bendy Elm?
More on these topics
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Devon - Shire county
Devon, also known as Devonshire, is a county of England, reaching from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south.
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County Down - County of Northern Ireland
County Down (Irish: Contae an Dúin) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the traditional thirty-two counties of Ireland. It covers an area of 961 mi2 (2,490 km2) and has a population of 552,261. It borders County Antrim to the north, the Irish Sea to the east, County Armagh to the west, and County Louth across Carlingford Lough to the southwest. In the east of the county is Strangford Lough and the Ards Peninsula. The largest settlement is Bangor, a city on the northeast coast. Three other large towns and cities are on its border: Newry lies on the western border with County Armagh; Lisburn and Belfast lie on the northern border with County Antrim. Down contains the southernmost point of Northern Ireland (Cranfield Point) and the easternmost point of Ireland (Burr Point). It was one of two counties of Northern Ireland to have a Protestant majority in the 2001 census. The other Protestant-majority County was County Antrim to the north. In the 2021 Census, it was the only county with a Protestant background majority, as Antrim has a Protestant background plurality. In the 2021 census, Ards and North Down had the highest number of...
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Dutch elm disease - Cryptogamic disease caused by Ophiostoma ulmi fungus
Dutch elm disease (DED) is caused by a member of the sac fungi (Ascomycota) affecting elm trees, and is spread by elm bark beetles. Although believed to be originally native to Asia, the disease was accidentally introduced into America and Europe, where..
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Northern Ireland - Country of the United Kingdom
Northern Ireland is variously described as a country, province or region which is part of the United Kingdom. Located in the northeast of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland shares a border to the south and west with the Republic of Ireland.