Rutland Tree which survived WW2 plane crash up for award

Ten of the UK’s “toughest” trees, from an oak that survived a plane crash to a yew hit by a cannonball, have been shortlisted for this year’s Tree of the Year award.

The Woodland Trust said its annual competition aimed to celebrate and raise awareness for rare, ancient or at-risk trees across the country.

An oak tree in Rutland that was hit by a World War Two bomber and a yew in East Sussex that could be 4,000 years old – and was struck by a cannonball in the English Civil War – are among the final 10 contenders for the title.

Actor and nature podcaster David Oakes, a Woodland Trust ambassador, said the nominees had “defied the odds in extraordinary ways”.

Of the 10 shortlisted, a panel of experts selected eight trees of differing ages and species, while the public chose two as wildcard entries.

The public can vote for their favourite tree until late September via the Woodland Trust website, and the winner will be announced in early October – before progressing to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals.