Bendy wych elm in Newcastle, Co Down, wins Woodland Trust UK Tree of the Year
The "Bendy Tree", a roughly 150-year-old wych elm in Newcastle, County Down, has won the Woodland Trust's UK Tree of the Year. It is the first Northern Ireland winner.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The "Bendy Tree", a wych elm in Newcastle, County Down, has been named the winner of this year's UK Tree of the Year contest run by the Woodland Trust. Evening StandardN “The wych elm in County Down is the first ever tree in Northern Ireland to be crowned the winner of the Woodland Trust’s annual competition.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “The “astonishing and bizarre” Bendy Tree in Northern Ireland has been crowned the winner of this year’s tree of the year competition.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Centre · 1It is the first tree from Northern Ireland to win the competition. Evening StandardN “The wych elm in County Down is the first ever tree in Northern Ireland to be crowned the winner of the Woodland Trust’s annual competition.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Centre · 1Tens of thousands of people voted in a public poll that ran from July to September, choosing from a shortlist of 10 trees; the Woodland Trust said the winner received 30% of votes. This year's theme was "Against all odds". Evening StandardN “Tens of thousands of people voted for their favourite tree in a public poll that ran from July to September, choosing from a shortlist of 10 trees.”“received 30% of public votes, the Woodland Trust said.” Read at Evening Standard ↗
Mixed · 2The tree is named for its near-horizontal trunk, which has grown sideways because of strong seaside winds off the Irish Sea. The GuardianLC “owes its name to its near horizontal trunk, which has grown sideways owing to the strong seaside winds coming off the Irish Sea.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Evening StandardN “has weathered extreme coastal gusts – apparent from its horizontal trunk – for more than 150 years.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Mixed · 2It was planted in the mid-19th century in a row of wych elms along the town's promenade and is now the last one standing, after many were felled during redevelopments (the Standard dates these to the 1980s). Evening StandardN “is now the last one standing after many were felled during redevelopments in the 1980s.” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “Many of those trees were felled during redevelopments of the town, with the bendy tree now the last one standing.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2The elm has also survived Dutch elm disease, a fungus that destroyed most of the UK's 30 million elms, and it shades people who sit on the bench beneath its branches. Evening StandardN “It has also survived Dutch elm disease” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “The tree’s unusual shape has also provided welcome shade to residents and visitors resting on the bench located beneath its branches.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Mixed · 2May Chemais, ancient tree inventory lead at the Woodland Trust, said: "When you look at this astonishing and bizarre tree, there's no doubt about what it has endured." She said it had "struck a chord with people". Evening StandardN ““When you look at this astonishing and bizarre tree, there’s no doubt about what it has endured.”” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “I think that’s why the Bendy Tree has struck a chord with people,” she said.” Read at The Guardian ↗ Left · 1John Martin, director of Woodland Trust NI, said the tree's whimsical nature made it a worthy winner: "I guess it gives people a bit of a smile on their day." The GuardianLC ““I guess it gives people a bit of a smile on their day.”” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2Other shortlisted trees included the Crowhurst Yew, the Culmstock Yew in Devon, the Balloch Castle ash by Loch Lomond, the Bollihope Burn Birch in County Durham and the "Preston Twin" elm in Brighton. The reports differ on where Crowhurst is (East Sussex or Surrey). Evening StandardN “It triumphed over contenders that included the Crowhurst Yew in East Sussex” Read at Evening Standard ↗ The GuardianLC “Other trees nominated in this year’s competition included the Crowhurst Yew in Crowhurst, Surrey, England.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Centre · 1As the winner, the Bendy Tree will represent the UK in next year's European Tree of the Year finals. The competition was supported by Postcode Lottery. Evening StandardN “the Bendy Tree will represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals next year.”“Laura Chow, head of charities at Postcode Lottery, which supported the competition” Read at Evening Standard ↗ Left · 1Last year's winner was a 75ft ash tree shading homes on a busy Glasgow road. The Woodland Trust has also launched an Igniting Innovation competition for 16 to 25-year-olds, with three winners each receiving £5,000 and up to a year of mentoring. The GuardianLC “Last year’s honour went to a 75ft ash tree that shades homes on one of Glasgow’s busiest roads.”“Three winners will receive £5,000 in funding and up to a year of expert mentoring to bring their projects to life.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Human-interest environment piece on a quirky survivor, led by the tree's wind-bent shape and including a Woodland Trust NI director's personal recollection.
- Emphasis
- Whimsy and local feeling, wind-shaped growth, last year's winner, and the Trust's youth innovation competition.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the vote share, the shortlist size, the poll dates or the European finals.
- Charged language
- “astonishing and bizarre”“still standing against all odds”
- For example
-
“For John Martin, director of the Woodland Trust NI, it is the whimsical nature of the tree that makes it a worthy winner.” — The Guardian
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straightforward contest-result report that stresses the first Northern Ireland win and details the poll and rival trees.
- Emphasis
- The 30% vote share, shortlist details, European finals and sponsor quotes.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not quote Woodland Trust NI or mention last year's winner.
- Charged language
- “Bendy Tree”“plucky yew”
- For example
-
“The tree, whose canopy casts shade for locals who can sit on the town centre bench underneath its branches, received 30% of public votes, the Woodland Trust said.” — Evening Standard
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The Bendy Tree, a wych elm in Newcastle, Co Down, won the Woodland Trust's UK Tree of the Year.
- It has stood for about 150 years, grown sideways in coastal winds, and survived Dutch elm disease.
- It is the last of a row of wych elms planted along the promenade in the mid-19th century.
- May Chemais of the Woodland Trust called it "astonishing and bizarre".
Where accounts differ
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Location of the Crowhurst Yew
- Left
- The Guardian places it in Crowhurst, Surrey.
- Centre
- Evening Standard places it in East Sussex.
Woodland Trust organisation
The charity runs the contest and says the tree struck a chord because it embodies endurance. It also encourages the public to add ancient trees to its inventory or to donate.
“She encouraged members of the public who are inspired to protect ancient and veteran trees in their area to add them to the Woodland Trust’s ancient tree inventory or to donate to the organisation.” — Evening Standard
“I think that’s why the Bendy Tree has struck a chord with people,” she said.” — The Guardian
County Down place
County Down is the home of the winning tree, in the seaside town of Newcastle, which is the first Northern Ireland winner.
“The wych elm in County Down is the first ever tree in Northern Ireland to be crowned the winner” — Evening Standard
Left1 article
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Bendy elm still standing against all odds crowned UK tree of the year
Sympathetic Warm feature on the tree's oddity and resilience, with Woodland Trust NI voice.
Centre1 article
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‘Bendy’ wych elm in Northern Ireland wins Tree of the Year contest
Neutral Factual results report with poll details, shortlist and sponsor comment.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 8 Oct 00:01 First Evening StandardN ‘Bendy’ wych elm in Northern Ireland wins Tree of the Year contest
- 8 Oct 00:01 First The GuardianLC Bendy elm still standing against all odds crowned UK tree of the year
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.