Shropshire oak and horse chestnut in running for Tree of the Year 2016
Two of Shropshire's ancient trees have been flagged up for national recognition – and the chance to win £1,000 to help preserve them.
An oak tree in the grounds of Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and a horse chestnut in the middle of a suburban road in Ludlow are both in the running for the title of the Woodland Trust's 2016 Tree of the Year.
Individual winners will be selected for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and will bag £1,000 towards their upkeep – but every shortlisted tree that gets more than 1,000 votes will get a £500 'Tree LC' pamper package.
The first Shropshire tree nominated is a huge oak that stands in the car park at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Richard Jones, speaking for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: "We believe it was planted during the Era of King George III and the British victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.
"If trees could talk then this one would have lots to say, especially as it formerly resided on the old estate of eccentric landowner 'Mad' John Mytton.
"Estimating the age of an oak tree is never easy, however if you measure its girth, the Woodland Trust has a ready reckoner chart for oaks.
"This wonderful oak measures 4m 17cm, giving it an age of between 200 and 250 years old."
Meanwhile in Ludlow, two Shropshire councillors are putting forward another huge tree, a horse chestnut that towers over an ancient well – both crammed onto a tiny traffic island on Livesey Road.
Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, said: "Everybody drives past this and they don't notice it.
"We're planning to put this in for the Woodland Trust Tree of the Year because we want it to be more noticed.
"It's just such a fantastic chestnut tree, I just love it, and the whole district has grown around it.
"The girth is huge, I can't put my arms around it.
"It's got to be more than 100 years old and it's lived with this well for all that time."
The 14th century well pre-dates the tree, but the two together have become a local meeting point and landmark, and even have a myth of a witch in the well surrounding them.
Tracey Huffer, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow East, said she had known the tree all her life.
She said: "My father and his grandparents can remember it and my father is now 76.
"This is my area when I was a child, I used to sit on the well – which we try and not tell people to do now because it's not doing it any favours."
For further information on the Tree of the Year competition, visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/tree-of-the-year/
