European Tree of the Year 2016

From today until the last day of February, people can vote online at www.treeoftheyear.org for their favorite candidate to become the European Tree of the Year 2016. The competition promises to be intense, with fifteen fascinating stories and remarkable trees from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech republic, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain and Wales.

“We are very keen on the social and environmental impact of the contest. This is why this year we are also promoting individual donations to help protect European trees, by encouraging people to think of their donations as hugging a tree” explains Michal Vesely, Managing Director of the Environmental Partnership Association.

Two new countries have joined this new edition of the contest, organized at European level since 2011, Germany and Northern Ireland. The German tree is a remarkable lime tree under which the champion marksman of the municipality is proclaimed every year. The Northern Irish candidate stands a historical reminder of peace and remembrance.

Beccy Speight, Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, organizer of the Tree of the Year in the British Isles said: “Tree of the Year connects people to their heritage and demonstrates that people all over Europe love trees. All important trees need to be protected so that future generations can continue to enjoy them“.

The 2016 Award Ceremony of the European Tree of the Year will take place at the Cercle Gaulois in Brussels on April 20th under the patronage of RNDr Pavel Poc MEP, Vice-Chair, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament.

Learn more about the European Tree of the Year
Download the pictures of the finalists

photo: The oak from Danube park in Silistra, Nevyana Marinova