We did it! Our tree has won Tree of the Year 2021.

It is an honour that “the tree” in Kippford made it to the shortlist for the UK Tree of the Year 2021. Anyone who visits Kippford will know ‘the tree’. It stands proud, stoic, determined, and a little windswept on the shelly beach at the end of Rough Firth. Through the years it has been battered by wind and almost consumed by shells washed up on the beach several years ago in a storm. It sadly lost a limb/branch to some over-excited children years ago when they sat on it. It has been photographed hundreds of time, and painted by many local artists. It has appeared in several calendars too.

38% of the votes to the The Woodland Trust initiative went to our tree. 2nd place was a Monterey cypress tree planted on a beach in Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, Wales, taking 19% of the vote. Well done Saundersfoot.

As a community, we are thinking of ways to mark this event, and the tree. So many of you shared memories of your life around the tree. We would like to capture those, along with photos. More in the coming weeks.