Ancient yew in abbey ruins named tree of the year

A "magnificent" Surrey yew histrion which is thought to beryllium much than 500 years aged has been named the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year.

The histrion is increasing successful the grounds of the ruined Waverley Abbey adjacent Farnham.

The Portal Tree successful Midlothian and a equine chestnut histrion successful Derbyshire were voted 2nd and third.

The contention aims to item however important trees are successful the conflict against clime change, the organisers said.

Tom Reed from the Woodland Trust said: "It is large to spot that this magnificent histrion has been recognised arsenic Tree of the Year 2022 and the mode the histrion is rooted wrong the ruins of the abbey is simply a large awesome of the information that our past trees are intertwined with different aspects of our taste heritage."

The yew volition spell connected to correspond the UK successful the European Tree of the Year competition.

The roots of the yew are increasing into and astir the ruins of the English Heritage site, Waverley Abbey - the archetypal Cistercian monastery founded successful Britain 900 years ago, the Woodlands Trust said.

Dr Michael Carter, English Heritage elder properties historian, added that the histrion was a "truly spectacular reminder of the transition of clip and a precise worthy victor of histrion of the year".