Mysterious Highland 'Ent' survivor in running for tree of the year award

AN ancient Glen Affric elm tree likely to strike a chord with fans of the Lord of the Rings is in the running to be named Scotland's Tree of the Year.

The only tree of its kind in the glen the elm, around 300 years old, had stood forgotten until a 2012 site visit by staff from Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) and the Trees for Life charity.

Bearing a marked resemblance to an Ent, or tree-shepherd, from JRR Tolkien’s fantasy series, it has been named the Last Ent of Affric.

Giles Brockman, FLS environment advisor, said: "This gnarled old beauty, damaged by some great storm back in the mists of time, has regrown and quietly lived hidden away from the ravages of Dutch Elm disease.

"Growing on a rocky outflow of a mountain stream, where there is very little soil under the moss that covers the rocks, we think it must be a survivor of a forest long departed.

"Given its location, its isolation – and its Entish face – it’s very easy to imagine it as one of Tolkien’s Ents, standing sentinel over the rebirth of a new native woodland in Affric."

The tree, which also serves as an owl roost, is 11km from the end of the road in Glean nan Ciche, a side spur off Glen Affric.

The annual Tree of the Year competition draws attention to some of the country's most interesting trees and encourages people to explore the great outdoors.

You can vote for your favourite short-listed Scottish tree at https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/vote-tree-of-the-year-2019/scotland/

Voting closes on September 27.

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