A much-loved ash tree in the heart of Glasgow has won the annual Tree of the Year competition organised by the Woodland Trust.
While many trees featured in the competition are located in the remote British countryside, the Argyle Street ash stands proudly on one of the city’s busiest roads. Author James Cowan described the tree in his 1951 book *From Glasgow’s Treasure Chest* as “quite the most graceful ash I have seen.” This is a point of pride for locals, and Cowan’s quote is displayed in the pub opposite the tree.
Cowan’s book also recounts an urban legend about the tree’s origins. It is said that a sapling grew by accident when a local family returned from holiday with primrose roots, one of which contained the ash seed. Today, the Argyle Street ash remains the only tree on the street, standing 75 feet tall and casting shade on the surrounding sandstone tenement houses.
Across the UK, many ash trees have been felled due to the fungal disease ash dieback, which kills affected trees. However, the Argyle Street ash, planted during the Victorian era, has survived numerous challenges including the Clydeside blitz, recent redevelopment, and the disease itself.
This year, the tree beat strong contenders such as the King of Limbs oak, which inspired a Radiohead album title, and the Lonely Tree, located on the edge of Llyn Padarn in north Wales. Other top-five finalists included the Lady Jane Grey oak in Bradgate Park, Leicester, and a majestic cedar with low-sweeping boughs at Chiswick House, London — famously the site of a Beatles photoshoot.
Adam Cormack, head of campaigning at the Woodland Trust, said:
“Trees really matter to people, and this is clear from the response we’ve seen to the Argyle Street ash. Trees inspire us to write stories and create art, whilst connecting us to cultural legacies and a sense of place. We encourage people to notice and enjoy the trees around them, and learn more about how they benefit us — from boosting biodiversity and wellbeing to mitigating the effects of climate change.”
David Treanor, the arborist managing the ash in recent years, nominated the tree for the award. The Argyle Street ash has been protected by a tree preservation order, believed to be one of the first such orders in Glasgow.
Among others who nominated the tree were local MSP Paul Sweeney and Stuart Murdoch of the band Belle and Sebastian.
This win marks a second consecutive victory for Scotland, following last year’s triumph of the Skipinnish oak. The Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year winner will now go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest in early 2026.
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