A 150-year-old tree in Northern Ireland that has grown almost completely sideways has been crowned the UK’s Tree of the Year for 2026.
Known locally as the “Bendy Tree,” the wych elm in Newcastle, County Down, has developed its unusual shape after spending more than a century exposed to powerful winds from the Irish Sea.
Despite its twisted appearance, the tree has survived for approximately 150 years, overcoming disease, severe weather, and redevelopment that saw neighboring trees removed.
The Woodland Trust named it the winner of its annual Tree of the Year competition, which celebrated trees that have survived “against the odds” in 2026.
Bendy Tree beats the odds to win Tree of the Year
The Bendy Tree was originally planted during the mid-19th century as part of a row of elm trees designed to protect Newcastle’s main street from coastal winds.
However, while the other trees were eventually cut down during redevelopment projects, the Bendy Tree remained standing.
It has also avoided Dutch elm disease, a fungal infection responsible for destroying the vast majority of the UK’s estimated 30 million elm trees.
Its distinctive shape has made it a recognizable landmark in Newcastle, where its branches stretch over a public bench, providing shade for people sitting underneath.
“The gravity-defying Bendy Tree is a much-loved icon on the central promenade and a real fighter,” the Woodland Trust said. “Growing almost horizontally, its incredible shape is testament to the harsh coastal conditions it has withstood for more than a century.”
“The Bendy Tree was planted with many others to protect the original Newcastle promenade, likely around the mid-19th century and perhaps as part of the grounds of the new hotel.
“But many of those trees were felled in the 1980s for redevelopment of the promenade and the Bendy Tree is the last one standing from that era.”
The Bendy Tree faced some unusual competition for this year’s award, including a 4000-year-old yew tree in Surrey that villagers hollowed out in 1820 to create a meeting room inside its trunk.
Another contender was the Culmstock Yew in Devon, which has somehow managed to grow on top of a 20-meter-high church tower.
The Northern Irish elm succeeds a 75-foot ash tree in Glasgow, which won the competition in 2025.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
