For more than a century, one unusual tree on the Northern Irish coast has refused to grow the way most trees do. Bent almost sideways by relentless winds from the Irish Sea, the striking wych elm has survived conditions that could have ended its story long ago.
Now, the tree locals call the “Bendy Tree” has added a remarkable new chapter to that story. The 150-year-old landmark on Newcastle’s seafront in County Down has been crowned the UK Tree of the Year 2026, after winning a public vote built around the theme “Against the odds.”
How the Bendy Tree Became UK Tree of the Year 2026
The Bendy Tree did not win because it looks like a traditional picture of a majestic tree.
In fact, its most recognisable feature is the opposite. Its trunk and branches stretch almost horizontally, a shape created over decades as it adapted to the extreme coastal winds battering Newcastle.
That strange appearance has become part of its identity. What might once have looked like damage is now a symbol of survival — and for people in the town, the tree has become a familiar part of the landscape.
The Woodland Trust’s annual public competition attracted more than 20,000 votes in 2026. The Bendy Tree received 31% of the vote, beating nine other remarkable finalists from across the UK.
The victory is historic for another reason: it is the first time a tree from Northern Ireland has won the UK Tree of the Year title.
The tree will now represent the UK in next year’s European Tree of the Year competition.
Another Remarkable Record
The Bendy Tree isn’t the only unusual natural record recently covered on Backyard Drunkard. For another extraordinary achievement involving a giant specimen, see our Ian Paton Bagheera giant pumpkin world record report.
The key facts behind the 2026 winner
| Detail | Official information |
| Tree | Bendy Tree |
| Species | Native wych elm |
| Location | Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Age | Around 150 years |
| UK Tree of the Year vote | 31% |
| Total votes | More than 20,000 |
| Competition theme | “Against the odds” |
| Previous winner | Argyle Street Ash, Glasgow |
| Next stage | European Tree of the Year competition |
A Wych Elm Shaped by More Than 150 Years of Coastal Winds
The Bendy Tree is a native wych elm that was planted around the mid-19th century.
It was originally part of a row of wych elms along Newcastle’s original promenade. The trees were likely planted to protect the town’s main street from coastal winds and may have formed part of the grounds of a new hotel.
Over the decades, however, the environment shaped the trees in ways their planters could never have predicted.
The Bendy Tree gradually developed its almost horizontal form as powerful coastal winds repeatedly hit it from the direction of the Irish Sea.
Today, it is the last survivor of that original group of trees.
The others did not make it through the town’s later changes. Many were felled during the redevelopment of the promenade in the 1980s, leaving the unusual wych elm standing alone.
That history is a major part of what makes the tree’s survival so striking. It was not simply exposed to nature’s challenges; it also remained standing as the area around it changed.
The Tree Also Survived Dutch Elm Disease
The Bendy Tree faced another threat that devastated elm populations across Britain.
It survived Dutch elm disease, a fungal disease associated with the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi. According to the Woodland Trust, the second outbreak of Dutch elm disease destroyed most of the UK’s estimated 30 million elm trees.
The fungus was accidentally imported from North America in the 1960s.
Against that background, the continued survival of a mature native wych elm makes the Bendy Tree particularly rare.
Its resistance to the disease is another reason the tree fits so closely with the 2026 competition’s “Against the odds” theme. This year’s finalists represented trees that had endured everything from extreme weather and disease to lightning strikes and human development.
The Bendy Tree had faced several of those challenges itself.
Why the Bendy Tree Became a Newcastle Landmark
Its survival story is only part of the reason people have grown attached to it.
The tree has become a familiar feature of Newcastle’s central promenade, where its branches stretch almost horizontally above a town-centre bench.
It provides shade and shelter for people using the promenade and has become a popular meeting point and photography subject.
For local residents and visitors, it is more than an old tree. It is part of the everyday character of the town.
The Woodland Trust described it as “a much-loved icon on the central promenade and a real fighter.”
The organisation also said:
“Growing almost horizontally, its incredible shape is testament to the harsh coastal conditions it has withstood for more than a century.”
May Chemais, Ancient Tree Inventory lead for the Woodland Trust, said:
“When you look at this astonishing and bizarre tree, there’s no doubt about what it has endured.”
She continued:
“The Bendy Tree has been blasted by extreme winds over and over again, for well over a century. But it has continued to exist and remain rooted, adapting to its surroundings and flourishing into this unusual shape that is providing shade and joy to its community. We’ve all been through changes and hardships that have shaped who we are: I think that’s why the Bendy Tree has struck a chord with people.”
Chemais also pointed to the wider importance of mature trees, saying:
“Older trees like this one are providing our communities with so much – from shade, wellbeing and health benefits, to stories, culture and pride of place. Anyone inspired to protect ancient and veteran trees in their area can help by adding them to our Ancient Tree Inventory or by donating to the work of the Woodland Trust.”
Northern Ireland Gets Its First UK Tree of the Year Winner
The result carries particular significance for Northern Ireland.
The Bendy Tree is the first tree from Northern Ireland ever to win the Woodland Trust’s UK Tree of the Year competition.
The timing is also notable for the Woodland Trust’s Northern Ireland branch, which is celebrating 30 years since it was established.
The 2026 competition featured 10 finalists selected by the Woodland Trust’s expert panel alongside two public nominations. The competition was supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Laura Chow, head of charities at Postcode Lottery, said:
“Tree of the Year shines a light on the remarkable trees that stand at the heart of our communities, each with a story that deserves to be told. Our players are supporting a competition that celebrates the special connection people have with the nature and heritage on their doorstep.”
She added:
“The Bendy Tree’s incredible story of survival, from withstanding harsh coastal conditions to outliving disease and redevelopment, makes it a truly deserving winner.”
Which Trees Did the Bendy Tree Beat?
The Bendy Tree faced nine other finalists, each with its own story of resilience.
The Crowhurst Yew in Surrey finished second with 22% of the vote. Estimated to be around 4,000 years old, it has survived an 1845 storm, being hollowed out to create a meeting place and the impact of cannonball fire.
The Balloch Castle Ash in West Dunbartonshire finished third with 10%. It is believed to have survived a lightning strike, a 1968 hurricane, multiple storms and ash dieback. It was also one of the public nominations.
The Culmstock Yew in Devon finished fourth, having grown from the masonry of a church tower for around 200 years.
The Preston Twin in Brighton completed the top five. It is believed to be one of the world’s oldest surviving English elms and has lived for around four centuries despite the threat posed by Dutch elm disease.
The full 2026 shortlist was:
- Bendy Tree, Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland
- Crowhurst Yew, Crowhurst, Surrey, England
- Bomber Oak, near Uppingham, Rutland, England
- Preston Twin, Brighton, Sussex, England
- Culmstock Yew, Culmstock, Devon, England
- Bollihope Burn Birch, near Stanhope, County Durham, England
- Wales Coast Path Oak, Eglwys Fach, Ceredigion, Wales
- Earlstoun Lightning Oak, Dalry, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
- Balloch Castle Ash, Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
- Donnington Castle Oak, Newbury, Berkshire, England
More Than 20,000 People Voted for Their Favourite Tree
Public voting ran from July to September, allowing people to choose their favourite from the 10 finalists.
More than 20,000 people took part.
The final vote gave the Bendy Tree 31%, while the Crowhurst Yew received 22% and the Balloch Castle Ash received 10%.
The result shows how the competition has become about more than identifying remarkable trees. It also reflects the relationships communities develop with trees that remain part of their surroundings for generations.
From Glasgow’s Argyle Street Ash to Northern Ireland’s Bendy Tree
The Bendy Tree succeeds Glasgow’s Argyle Street Ash, which won the 2025 UK Tree of the Year competition.
The ash stands around 75 feet tall and has survived industrialisation, wartime bombing, redevelopment and ash dieback.
It went on to represent the UK in the 2026 European Tree of the Year competition, where it finished 12th, receiving 536 tree points.
The Oak of Laukiai from Lithuania won the international competition with 6,153 points.
Now, the Bendy Tree takes over as the UK’s representative for the next European Tree of the Year competition.
More Record-Breaking Nature
From an award-winning tree to a record-setting vegetable, unusual natural achievements continue to capture attention. Explore the story behind Sarah Whitty’s giant zucchini record for another remarkable example.
Conclusion: The Bendy Tree’s Extraordinary Survival Story Continues
The Bendy Tree’s unusual shape may be what catches the eye first, but its history explains why it has resonated so strongly with voters.
For more than 150 years, the native wych elm has endured severe coastal winds, survived Dutch elm disease and remained standing after redevelopment removed the other trees that once grew beside it.
It has also become part of daily life in Newcastle, offering shade and shelter while serving as a meeting point, photography subject and much-loved local landmark.
Now, after winning 31% of more than 20,000 votes, the Bendy Tree has made history as the first Northern Irish winner of the UK Tree of the Year.
Its story, however, is not ending with the national title. The extraordinary tree from Newcastle will next carry its story onto the European stage, representing both Northern Ireland and the UK in the next European Tree of the Year competition.
Source Disclaimer
This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided with the original material, including the Woodland Trust’s 2026 Tree of the Year information and the relevant current reporting listed in the supplied source material. The competition results, historical details, statements, quotes and other information presented here reflect the information available from those sources as of October 9, 2026. The article does not imply independent verification beyond the information supported by those provided sources.
Sources
- Woodland Trust — Bendy Tree Wins UK Tree of the Year 2026
- Woodland Trust — Tree of the Year 2026 Results and Finalists
- Woodland Trust — European Tree of the Year Results
- RTÉ — Bendy Tree in Co Down Wins Tree of the Year Competition
- ITV News — Bendy Wych Elm Wins Tree of the Year Contest
- The Independent — Bendy Wych Elm Wins UK Tree of the Year
- The Guardian — Bendy Elm Crowned UK Tree of the Year
Featured Image Credit: Facebook / The Phantom Planter / Social Media
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