A “bendy” wych elm has been crowned the UK’s Tree of the Year 2026 – the first time a tree in Northern Ireland has won the title.

The 150-year-old tree on the central promenade in Newcastle, County Down took more than 30% of the national public vote.

The theme of the Woodland Trust’s annual competition was Against All Odds, with trees across the UK shortlisted for being impressive, beautiful and sometimes baffling examples of how nature can survive adversity.

The trust’s Northern Ireland director John Martin said he had been rooting for the “whimsical” tree to win and said tens of thousands of people across the UK had clearly felt the same.

“It’s a great testament to the resilience of nature.”

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