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 proudly 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 quote is a point of pride for local residents and 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 the ash seed. The Argyle Street ash is the only tree on the street and stands 75 feet tall, casting shade over the surrounding sandstone tenement houses.
Many ash trees across the country have been felled due to the fungal disease ash dieback, which can be fatal for them. So far, the Argyle Street ash—planted in the Victorian era—has survived the Clydeside Blitz, recent urban redevelopment, and the devastating disease.
This year’s winning tree beat stiff competition, including the King of Limbs oak that inspired a Radiohead album title and the Lonely Tree, located on the edge of Llyn Padarn in North Wales. Other notable finalists in the top five were the Lady Jane Grey oak in Bradgate Park, Leicester, and a majestic cedar with low-sweeping boughs at Chiswick House in London, where the Beatles were once famously 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 nomination was made by arborist David Treanor, who has been managing it in recent years. The Argyle Street ash is protected by a tree preservation order, thought to be one of the first of its kind in Glasgow. Other nominators included local MSP Paul Sweeney and Stuart Murdoch of the band Belle and Sebastian.
This victory marks a second consecutive win for Scotland, following last year’s triumph of the Skipinnish oak.
The Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year winner will now go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year contest in early 2026.
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