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.
Strong coastal winds over many decades have forced the Bendy Tree into its unusual shape.
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.”
PICTURES: Michael Cooper Photography