The Argyle Street Ash, which topped the Woodland Trust’s UK Tree of the Year competition, is now in the running for the European title – and it needs your vote.
Standing at 23 metres (75 feet) tall, this remarkable tree has weathered Glasgow’s industrialisation, the Clydesdale Blitz, ash dieback, and it has been a well-loved and uplifting sight for the community throughout its 175 years.
Image: Douglas Crawford - Tree Wise Urban Forestry
David Treanor, the arborist who nominated the tree, said: “Our Defiant Giant is rooted in the hearts of so many people in Glasgow and across the UK. Now it’s time to share its story with the rest of Europe. This is a unique urban tree that we are proud to have as part of our city. Its survival against the odds and reassuring presence make it a symbol of hope. We want to dream big and think it will speak to people in cities around the world. Please vote for the Argyle Street Ash!”
The tree was described by James Cowan in his 1951 book, From Glasgow’s Treasure Chest, as “quite the most graceful ash I have seen” – a quote framed on the wall of the pub opposite, known for its Gaelic live music scene. The pub’s landlady helped campaign for it to win the UK competition, along with Belle and Sebastian frontman, Stuart Murdoch, and many others from the community.
Affectionately dubbed ‘the only tree in Argyle Street’, the ash is now the last of several trees that used to line this busy city road, and remains a welcome habitat for birds and other wildlife. It is also thought to have received the city’s first ever Tree Preservation Order in 1980.
Anna Perks, Tree Equity Lead at the Woodland Trust, said: "It's been a delight to see the public’s connection with this urban tree. With so many of us living in towns and cities, it has never been more important to recognise and cherish trees as a vital part of every neighbourhood. Trees like the Argyle Street Ash help improve air quality, provide shade and boost biodiversity. At the Woodland Trust, we believe every community should have access to the health and wellbeing benefits of trees.”
