Meet the winner
Lowkey, the coolest celebrity of the year isn't a person—it's a 150-year-old wych elm in Newcastle, County Down. This absolute icon, known affectionately as the "Bendy Tree," just snagged the UK Tree of the Year 2026 title. It is the first time a tree from Northern Ireland has taken the crown since the competition started back in 2014, and it absolutely ate, pulling in over 30% of the public vote.
Surviving against all odds
The Woodland Trust picked "Against All Odds" as this year’s theme, and the Bendy Tree fits the main character energy perfectly. While it was originally planted in the 19th century to shelter the promenade from sea breezes, all its neighbors were cut down in the 1980s. Because it spent its life fighting back against relentless coastal winds, its trunk grew almost perfectly horizontal.
But the drama doesn't stop there. This tree is a total survivor: it somehow managed to dodge the Dutch Elm disease that wiped out millions of trees across the UK in the 60s. "The Bendy Tree has been blasted by extreme winds, over and over again, for well over a century," said May Chemais, the Trust's Ancient Tree inventory lead. "But it has continued to exist and remain rooted, adapting to its surroundings and flourishing."
Why it matters
Real talk: Northern Ireland actually has some of the lowest woodland cover in Europe at just 8.7%. While there is a goal to hit 12% by 2050, tree-planting rates currently need to triple to make that happen. The Bendy Tree isn't just a quirky local landmark where people sit on a bench to watch the sea—it’s a reminder that nature is resilient, even when the vibes are off and the environment is tough. It’s giving hope to the future of conservation.
