With one week left, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish trees in the lead for ‘European Tree of the Year 2018’
BRUSSELS, February 22nd, 2018—Standings in the European Tree of the Year contest have gone secret as the vote enters its finals phase — from 22nd to 28th February. This way, fans and supporters won’t know the winner until the final announcement is made. The current standings give the top 3 to the Portuguese, Russian and Spanish tree candidates.
13 trees are taking part this year in the 8th edition of the prestigious European Tree of the Year award, with fascinating stories from 13 countries of Europe.People have one more week to vote and help pick this years’ laureate.
The latest visible standings (22 February, 8am), rank as follows:
- Whistler cork oak tree, Portugal
- The oak called "the Elder of the Belgorod Forests", Russian Federation
- Ancient elms of Cabeza del Buey, Spain
- Zengővárkony's survivor, the sweet chestnut, Hungary
- The Gilwell Oak, United Kingdom
- Witches Spruce, Lithuania
- Sequoias from Yuchbunar, Bulgaria
- Poplar Helena, Poland
- Apple tree from Bošáca, Slovakia
- Walnut Tree in Kvasice, Czech Republic
- The massive plane tree - the symbol of Trsteno, Republic of Croatia
- The Lime of the Old Country, Belgium
- Oak from Cajvana, Romania
More than 140,000 votes have been cast already. Polls remain open until February 28, 12pm.
Winners will be honoured at the Award Ceremony hosted by MEP Pavel POC at the European Parliament in Brussels, on March 21st, 2018, the International Day of Forestsin a festive and cultural evening to celebrate European trees in Brussels.
Read all the tree stories at:
Download the tree pictures here (Click for download)
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Media Contacts:
Ana Canomanuel, Communication officer:— +32(2) 235 20 02
Andrea Krůpová, Contest coordinator:— +420 515 903 13
FACTS & FIGURES
- 8th edition
- 13 trees from 13 countries
- 4new countries: Croatia, Portugal, Romania and Russia
- 1 tree representing the United Kingdom
More than 200,000 votes every year
The Environmental Partnership Association (EPA) is a leading environmental organization established for 25 years in Central and Eastern Europe. With a team of 80 employees, EPA operates in 6 countries via its 6 member foundations in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. EPA boasts 25-year experience in project coordination and carrying activities oriented to changing people’s mind-sets to protect and improve the environment.
The European Tree of the Year is a contest that highlights the significance of trees in the natural and cultural heritage of Europe and the importance of the ecosystem services trees provide. The contest is not looking for the most beautiful tree, but for a tree with a story, a tree rooted in the lives and work of the people and the community that surrounds it.