Hot on the heels of being crowned the UK’s Tree of the Year at the end of last year, a 480-year old sweet chestnut tree in Wrexham’s Acton Park is in the running to be crowned European Tree of the Year – with public votes now open.
The stately tree is well loved by locals for its history, value and beauty - and is often used as the centrepiece of picnics and local tree parties.
Photo: Hannah Farnell
It previously secured 17% of the overall votes for the Woodland Trust’s 2023 UK Tree of the Year competition, which focused on celebrating ancient and veteran trees in urban spaces across the UK.
The tree itself has an impressive circumference of 6.1m and a height of 24m. It has withstood many challenges during its half-millennium, from post-war plundering of Acton Park for firewood in the forties to dozens of deadly storms, including that of 2021 when many neighbouring trees lost limbs or were toppled completely.
Trees are well-known and celebrated in Wrexham. In 2022 Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales) awarded a total of £294,845 from its Emergency Tree Fund to Wrexham County Borough Council to support the Wrexham Forest partnership project, which seeks to increase trees and woodland across the county. Through implementing its Tree and Woodland Strategy and engaging partners, businesses, groups and individuals, the project is creating a county-wide, collective commitment to enhancing and protecting trees and woodland.
Wrexham Borough County Council has also made its own public Woodland Pledge to help protect trees and woodlands across the county borough - and encourage anyone to join, including those who are part of a local business, community group or organisation.
Cllr Terry Evans, Lead Member for the Environment said: “We were thrilled to get the Wrexham sweet chestnut shortlisted for UK Tree of the Year – and even more so when we won, with a healthy 17% of the public vote. We hope that the people of Wales will get behind this remarkable tree once again – and help take home a Euros win for Wrexham!”
The public is encouraged to vote for the Wrexham sweet chestnut and help to crown it 2024’s European Tree of the Year. Voting is open now at www.treeoftheyear.org.
