In late March, the European Tree of the Year contest awarded Lithuania’s 400-year-old Laukiai Oak 1st place.
Its incredible canopy, its eye-watering golden colors in autumn, and the manner in which it ties the small farming community together saw it end Poland’s 4-year winning streak in the competition that features nations honoring their most beloved wooden citizens.
The Oak of Laukiai (Quercus robur) once stood almost forgotten, known only to the people of the small Rukai village. A year ago, however, the local community restored the area around the tree and organized a celebration in its honor, bringing people together and reminding them of its quiet strength with music and costume.
Today, the sixth generation of the Laukiai people is growing up alongside this oak.
It won after more than 200,000 votes were cast for special trees in 12 different countries. This included a 150-year-old wild apple tree in Slovakia which took 2nd place, and the inevitable Polish contender: an incredible white elm growing almost horizontally out over a waterway, whose branches have each become trees in themselves.
“The competition was extremely close—the ranking remained uncertain until the very last moment,” said Petr Skrivanek, Coordinator of the European Tree of the Year in a statement.
“This year’s magnificent trees attracted huge attention across Europe. During the voting period, the website recorded around 1.5 million visits, with more than 200,000 unique voters.”
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Previous editions of the contest were decided by bulk vote. This year it was changed to a “tree point” system that prevented the contest from devolving into a mere question of which nation could get out the vote; which for the last 4 years has been Poland.
Many of the countries have their own tree of year contests, with the winner being nominated for the following year’s continent-wide edition. Competition is fierce, with the UK’s 2025 national winner—the Argyle Street Ash—coming in just 12th place.
WATCH a celebratory video in honor of the oak…
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