A 150-year-old wych elm in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland has won the UK tree of the year award for its unusual horizontal growth pattern.
The tree, known as the Bendy Tree, grows nearly parallel to the ground rather than upright. Strong winds blowing off the Irish Sea shaped its distinctive sideways trunk over its lifetime. The competition organisers described the tree as "astonishing and bizarre."
The wych elm's unusual form reflects decades of exposure to coastal weather conditions. Rather than being damaged by the constant wind pressure, the tree adapted and continued growing, producing a shape rarely seen in mature specimens. Its survival and resilience earned it recognition in the annual UK tree of the year competition, which celebrates notable trees across Britain and Ireland.