The Woodland Trust Tree of the Year competition celebrates the value of trees in our cultural history, shining a light on magnificent trees across the UK that are local landmarks, sources of passion, inspiration and creativity.
The ten finalists were selected by an expert panel, with one tree nominated by the public. The Argyle Street ash tree emerged victorious, receiving an impressive 27% of the vote. The runner-up, the King of Limbs in Savernake Forest, secured 24% of the votes. In third place, the Lonely Tree of Llanberis in North Wales, received 13% of the vote.
As the UK winner, the Argyle Street Ash will go on to represent the UK in the European tree of the year contest in early 2026.
Argyle Street Ash
Whilst many of the trees in this year’s competition are located in the British countryside, the Argyle Street ash is located in Glasgow, on one of the city’s busiest roads.
Known locally as the “Lone tree of Finnieston”, the lofty ash stands alongside the tenements on one of Glasgow’s busiest streets. A people’s tree, the ash lives in the hearts of Glaswegians and is very much part of the city’s emotional architecture. Standing proud for over an estimated 170 years, the tree is rooted in the social history of Glasgow, having survived the Clydeside Blitz, the rise and fall of industry, and now defying the odds to resist ash dieback.
The Argyle Ash was the first tree in Glasgow to be protected by a tree preservation order. In the 1930s, James Cowan praised the tree in a local newspaper column, calling it “a very tall ash tree, its highest branches reaching far above the top windows of the tenement. It is quite the most graceful ash I have seen.” The column was later published in the book From Glasgow’s Treasure Chest.
The Argyle Street winner is the second victory in a row for Scotland, after the striking Skipinnish oak on the Achnacarry Estate in Lochaber, won last year’s contest.
