One tree to rule them all? Highland tree looks like it would belong in Lord of the Rings
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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 – which is 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 adviser, 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. Vote for your favourite short-listed tree at https://bit.ly/2kjxZI1 before September 27.
