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 prominently 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 local residents, and Cowan’s quote is even displayed in the pub opposite the tree.
Cowan’s book also recounts an urban legend that a sapling grew by accident when a local family returned from holiday with primrose roots, one of which contained an ash seed. The Argyle Street ash is the only tree in the street and stands an impressive 75 feet tall, casting shade on the surrounding sandstone tenement houses.
Many ash trees across the UK have been felled due to the fungal disease ash dieback, which is often fatal. However, the Argyle Street ash, planted during the Victorian era, has survived numerous challenges—including the Clydeside Blitz, recent redevelopment projects, and the disease itself.
This resilient tree beat 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. Also featured in the top five were the Lady Jane Grey oak in Bradgate Park, Leicester, and a majestic cedar tree with low-sweeping boughs at Chiswick House in London, where the Beatles were once photographed.
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.”
The tree’s recent management has been overseen by arborist David Treanor, who also nominated it for the competition. The Argyle Street ash is protected by a Tree Preservation Order, thought to be one of the first in Glasgow. Other notable nominators included local MSP Paul Sweeney and Stuart Murdoch of the band Belle and Sebastian.
This marks a second consecutive victory for Scotland, following the Skipinnish oak’s triumph last year. The winner of the Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year competition will go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest in early 2026.
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