Bendy Wych Elm in Newcastle Wins UK Tree of the Year

The Bendy Tree in Newcastle, County Down, won UK Tree of the Year 2026. The 150-year-old wych elm grew sideways under Irish Sea winds and survived Dutch elm disease, a fungus that killed most of UK's 30 million elms. Planted to shelter the promenade, it is the last of its row. The Woodland Trust ran the 'against the odds' contest.