Glasgow's Argyle Street Ash Crowned Tree of the Year 2025
The Argyle Street Ash, a beloved urban tree in Glasgow, has been named the Tree of the Year 2025 by the Woodland Trust. The victory follows a public vote after the tree was nominated as a wildcard entry, demonstrating the strong community connection to this urban landmark. The announcement was made on September 25, 2025.
A Wildcard Triumph
The Argyle Street Ash wasn't initially on the expert shortlist. Instead, it was nominated as a wildcard by David Treanor, a Glasgow arborist who has managed the tree for the past five years. His advocacy and the tree’s deep ties to the local community propelled it to victory. The competition was tough, with other contenders including the King of Limbs Oak in Wiltshire and the Lonely Tree in North Wales.
Treanor shared with BBC Scotland News the many personal stories associated with the tree: "There are stories of people's mothers and fathers meeting underneath the tree, there are people who hail taxis and ask it to be sent to the big tree on Argyle Street—there are so many lovely wee stories about it. It was the people's tree, the only urban tree on the shortlist, and people in Glasgow got behind it."
Rooted in Culture
This year’s contest theme, “rooted in culture,” aimed to highlight the cultural significance of trees. The Argyle Street Ash exemplifies this, being referenced in James Cowan’s 1951 book, Glasgow’s Treasure Chest, where it is described as "quite the most graceful ash I have seen." This quote is prominently displayed in a pub across from the tree, a venue known for its Gaelic live music events.
Standing at approximately 75 feet tall and around 175 years old, the Argyle Street Ash has witnessed generations of city life. According to Treanor, it's a part of Glasgow’s "emotional architecture," having survived redevelopment, the Clydeside Blitz during World War II, and the threat of ash dieback.
Celebrating Community and Resilience
Anna Perks, tree equity lead at the Woodland Trust, highlighted the strong human connection to the tree. Adam Cormack, head of campaigning at the Woodland Trust, emphasized the inspiration trees provide for stories and art, and their connection to cultural legacies. He told BBC, "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.”
The Competition and What's Next
The Argyle Street Ash narrowly beat the King of Limbs Oak, thought to be at least 1,000 years old and the inspiration for a Radiohead album. Other strong contenders included the Lonely Tree, the Lady Jane Grey Oak, and a cedar at London’s Chiswick House, where The Beatles were famously photographed.
Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, which supported the competition, called the Argyle Street Ash "a worthy winner." She added that the trees "rooted in culture, show how valued they are by their communities, and the significant importance they have in our wider cultural history."
Following its win, the Argyle Street Ash will represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals in early 2026. Treanor hopes the recognition will inspire other cities to protect their own urban trees, highlighting that this win is "a victory for misunderstood urban trees all over the world".
The Argyle Street Ash, a symbol of resilience and community, will continue to stand tall in the heart of Glasgow, a testament to the enduring connection between people and nature.
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