'Bendy Tree' wins UK Tree of the Year in first for Northern Ireland
Senior PR officer
The 'Bendy Tree' in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, has won UK Tree of the Year 2026.
This "astonishing and bizarre" wych elm in County Down has been crowned winner of the popular annual competition run by the Woodland Trust to find the nation’s favourite tree.
With more than 30% of public votes, the Bendy Tree has become the first ever tree from Northern Ireland to win UK Tree of the Year.
Since voting opened in July, tens of thousands of people picked their favourites from a shortlist of 10 tenacious trees, chosen for being impressive, beautiful and sometimes baffling examples of how nature can survive adversity, as part of this year’s theme: ‘Against the odds.’
The extreme seaside gusts that the Bendy Tree has survived are glaringly apparent from its near-horizontal trunk. Its unexpected rainbow shape casts welcome shade for locals resting on the town centre bench located beneath its leafy branches.
A much-loved feature of Newcastle’s promenade, the Bendy Tree has also resisted Dutch elm disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi), a fungus which, during its second UK outbreak, destroyed most of the UK’s 30 million elms, after it was accidentally imported from North America in the 1960s.
Now over 150 years old, the Bendy Tree was planted as part of a row of wych elms along the town’s original promenade around the mid-19th century to shelter the main street from sea winds. Many of those trees were felled during redevelopments in the 1980s, and the Bendy Tree is now the last one standing.
May Chemais, Ancient Tree Inventory lead for the Woodland Trust, said:
“When you look at this astonishing and bizarre tree, there’s no doubt about what it has endured.
“The Bendy Tree has been blasted by extreme winds over and over again, for well over a century. But it has continued to exist and remain rooted, adapting to its surroundings and flourishing into this unusual shape that is providing shade and joy to its community. We've all been through changes and hardships that have shaped who we are: I think that's why the Bendy Tree has struck a chord with people.”
“Older trees like this one are providing our communities with so much – from shade, wellbeing and health benefits, to stories, culture and pride of place. Anyone inspired to protect ancient and veteran trees in their area can help by adding them to our Ancient Tree Inventory or by donating to the work of the Woodland Trust.”
A win and an anniversary for Northern Ireland
The Bendy Tree has become the first Northern Irish winner of UK Tree of the Year, in the same year that the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland celebrates 30 years since it was established.
Runners up
Other trees in the running for the top spot included a small yew that has been almost incomprehensibly growing from the masonry of a Devon church tower for 200 years, a Scottish ash that survived a lightning strike, and a Surrey yew, in which early 19th century villagers found an embedded English Civil War cannonball. More information on the runners-up can be found on the competition page.
The top five trees from this year’s competition were, by number of public votes:
Bendy Tree, Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland
Crowhurst Yew, Crowhurst, Surrey, England
Balloch Castle Ash, Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Culmstock Yew, Culmstock, Devon, England
Preston Twin, Brighton, Sussex, England
Postcode Lottery
The Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year competition is supported by Postcode Lottery players.
Laura Chow, head of charities at Postcode Lottery, said:
"Tree of the Year shines a light on the remarkable trees that stand at the heart of our communities, each with a story that deserves to be told. Our players are supporting a competition that celebrates the special connection people have with the nature and heritage on their doorstep.
“The Bendy Tree’s incredible story of survival, from withstanding harsh coastal conditions to outliving disease and redevelopment, makes it a truly deserving winner."
Notes to editors
About the Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust was established in 1972 and is now the UK's largest woodland conservation charity, with more than 500,000 members and supporters.
With a vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, today the Trust owns and cares for more than 1,000 woodland sites, covering around 33,000 hectares.
The Woodland Trust has three key aims:
protecting the UK's rare, unique and irreplaceable ancient woodland
restoring damaged ancient woodland, nurturing precious pieces of our natural heritage back to life
establishing new native woods and trees to create healthy, resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.
Access to all Woodland Trust woods is free so everyone can experience the physical and mental benefits of trees.