Skipinnish Oak in Scotland named UK's Tree of the Year

The Skipinnish Oak in Lochaber, Scotland, has been named the UK's Tree of the Year and will compete in the European Tree of the Year contest. The oak was discovered by members of the Skipinnish ceilidh band during a performance. This ancient oak, one of the largest in the region, is surrounded by nonnative timber forests and supports diverse wildlife, including rare lichens. It received 21% of the public vote, narrowly beating the Darwin Oak and Bowthorpe Oak. The Woodland Trust highlighted the importance of ancient oaks, which can live for over 1,500 years and support thousands of species. The next European competition will be held in 2025.