The hunt is on for Scotland’s best loved tree!

ladys-tree

Lady’s Tree at the Loch of the Lowes nature reserve near Dunkeld won the competition in 2014.

Scottish Tree of the Year is the search for the nation’s best loved tree. It’s organised by the Woodland Trust Scotland and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The competition is open to any living tree in Scotland, and anybody can enter. We’re looking for individuals or groups to nominate trees that have an amazing story to tell and to champion their trees through the competition.

Virtually every community in Scotland has at least one tree that forms a local landmark or has a great story to tell. It could be associated with a famous figure or historical event. Maybe it’s the sole survivor of much bigger forest woodland, or one that local people rallied to save it from being felled? Or it might be a tree that everyone in the community knows and loves.

Entries are open until Sunday 12 July after which an independent panel of judges will shortlist six trees and later in the year, a public online vote will decide the winner. The winning tree will be announced at a reception at the Scottish Parliament in October, and the tree will go on to the European Tree of the Year contest in 2016.

To enter, simply fill out the online application form on the link below and tell us about the tree and how you would campaign for it to win a public vote. Please include at least one photograph of the tree (and remember to contact the owner of the land on which the tree stands for permission.)

More information about the competition can be found at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/treeoftheyear. Entries close on Sunday 12 July.