Nellie's Tree wins England's Tree of the Year Published duration 18 October 2018

image copyright Rob Grange image caption Nellie's tree was grafted from three beech saplings almost 100 years ago

A beech tree grafted into an N-shape to woo a woman called Nellie has been named as England's Tree of the Year.

The Woodland Trust, which runs the competition, said Nellie's Tree at Aberford, near Leeds, was formed almost 100 years ago by Vic Stead.

He grafted one sapling between the other two to form the letter N to woo his sweetheart.

It was a move that worked as they went on to marry, the trust said. It is also a popular site for proposals today.

The tree, also known as the Love Tree by locals, was nominated by Vic and Nellie's grandson Chris Lund, who wanted to share their story.

The English entry secured 2,351 votes, the most votes of any tree in the contest.

image copyright Chris Lund image caption Nellie and Vic later married and started a family

Kaye Brennan, lead campaigner for the Woodland Trust, said: "There was a lot of love for this northern gem.

"Its popularity is a tale of romance and has really captured the public's interest to poll the most votes."

She said the aim of the competition was to showcase the UK's best trees to help drive up interest in their value and protection.

"The UK's trees could do with a bit more love," she said.

image copyright Rob Grange image caption The tree sits on the route taken by Vic Stead, as he walked to see his sweetheart

Nellie's tree will now compete in a vote to be the UK's contender for European Tree of the Year.

The winning trees all receive a £1,000 care grant from the People's Postcode Lottery.

Other UK winners are:

Northern Ireland: The Giant Sequoia, Castlewellan Forest Park, County Down

Scotland: Netty's Tree, Eriskay, Outer Hebrides

Wales: Pwllpriddog Oak, Rhandirmwyn, Carmarthenshire

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