A wych elm tree known as the Bendy Tree, located in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland, has been named the winner of this year’s UK Tree of the Year competition. The 150-year-old tree is noted for its distinctive near-horizontal trunk, which has grown sideways under the influence of strong winds from the nearby Irish Sea.

The elm’s unusual shape and resilience have captured public attention and earned it recognition under the competition’s theme of triumphing “against the odds.” The Bendy Tree has notably survived Dutch elm disease, a fungal infection that has devastated much of the UK’s approximate 30 million elm trees.

May Chemais, the ancient tree inventory lead at the Woodland Trust, which oversees the annual contest, highlighted the tree’s endurance and symbolic significance. “When you look at this astonishing and bizarre tree, there’s no doubt about what it has endured,” she said, noting the wider human connection to the tree’s survival through hardship. Chemais also emphasized the benefits older trees provide to communities, including shade, wellbeing, cultural stories, and local pride.

John Martin, director of the Woodland Trust Northern Ireland, reflected on the tree’s whimsical appearance and its impact on those who encounter it. Recalling visits to Newcastle during his childhood, Martin said the Bendy Tree stands out because it defies the typical expectation that trees grow vertically. “I guess it gives people a bit of a smile on their day,” he added. The tree has become a familiar feature for locals and visitors, who often rest on a bench placed beneath its sprawling branches.

The competition also featured several other notable entries, including the Crowhurst Yew in Surrey, England. This tree contains the remnants of a parish meeting room hollowed out of its trunk by villagers in 1820. Although the room’s roof collapsed during a storm in 1845, the tree continues to stand, with the original wooden door to the interior still visible.

The UK Tree of the Year award celebrates trees that have significance for their communities, both for their natural resilience and the cultural narratives they embody. This year’s winner highlights the enduring role of veteran trees in shaping local identity and enriching public life.