Centuries-old Scottish oak named after ceilidh band wins tree of the year vote

The centuries-old Skipinnish Oak named after a Scottish ceilidh band has won this year’s Tree of the Year contest, the Woodland Trust has announced.

The oak, thought to be at least 400 years old and hidden away in a Sitka spruce plantation in Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands, is a surviving remnant of the native ecosystem, playing host to rare lichens and other species, the Woodland Trust said.

The tree won 21% of the public vote in this year’s competition, which shortlisted a dozen ancient and veteran oak trees across the UK, to secure the title, and will go on to compete in the European Tree of the Year contest early next year.

The Skipinnish Oak is a remnant of an original ecosystem (Woodland Trust/PA). PA Media

It was not known to modern tree experts until a chance encounter with the Skipinnish ceilidh band, who were playing for the Native Woodland Discussion Group nearby and who directed them to its hidden location, enabling it to be added to the ancient tree inventory.

Andrew Stevenson, from the Skipinnish ceilidh band, said: “I am delighted that The Skipinnish Oak has won Tree of the Year.

“The tree has held a special place in my heart since my father first described it to me, and the first time I saw it many years ago.”

The Skipinnish Oak narrowly beat the Darwin Oak in Shrewsbury, estimated to be 550 years old and growing very close to the childhood home of Charles Darwin but threatened with being felled for the Shrewsbury bypass, which secured 20% of the votes.

The Bowthorpe Oak came third in the competition (Woodland Trust/PA). PA Media

The 1,000-year-old Bowthorpe Oak in Lincolnshire, a hollow tree with ancient graffiti inside and boasting the claim three dozen people once stood inside it, came third with 14%.

The public were given the chance to vote on 12 trees on the theme of magnificent oaks, 11 of which had been chosen by a panel of tree experts, along with one nominated by members of the public on social media.

According to the Woodland Trust, oaks can live more than 1,500 years and support 2,300 species of wildlife, and the UK boasts more ancient oaks than the rest of Western Europe combined.

As the Woodland Trust is campaigning for more robust legal protections for the country’s most valuable trees, the charity said it was an obvious choice to select oaks – which are “ingrained in our heritage” – to make up the shortlist.

Dr Kate Lewthwaite from the Woodland Trust said: “The Skipinnish Oak is a magnificent example of the natural heritage we strive to protect, and its recognition as UK Tree of the Year shines a light on the incredible biodiversity that our trees support.

Epiphytes growing on the Skipinnish Oak (Woodland Trust/PA). PA Media

“We encourage everyone to celebrate and preserve these vital features of our environment.”

The Skipinnish ceilidh band say they are planning to compose a new song in honour of the oak, which they will debut next September at a gig at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.