Collective Action. Powerful Impact
In the very heart of Glasgow, where trams once rattled and Teslas now glide, a living sentinel has stood for 170 years. The Argyle Street ash , described in 1951 by local historian James Cowan as “quite the most graceful ash I have seen” , has witnessed the city’s highs and lows: industrial booms, wartime bombings, urban renewal, and now, a renaissance of civic pride.
This autumn, the Woodland Trust crowned it UK Tree of the Year 2025 , after tens of thousands of public votes. Remarkably, the Argyle ash wasn’t even on the expert shortlist - it entered as a wildcard nomination from arborist David Treanor, whose quiet devotion to the tree helped galvanise support. The people of Glasgow made their voices heard, and their tree won.
The Tree of the Year competition, which highlights trees with cultural and historical resonance, is as much about people as it is about nature. This year’s shortlist included oaks immortalised in Virginia Woolf’s Orlando and sycamores linked to Radiohead lyrics. Yet the public chose an urban ash, standing on a bustling city street.
Why? Because trees are not just biological entities. They are woven into the social fabric of our lives. We walk past them on first dates. We shelter beneath them in storms. We mark our memories with them. In the words of Virginia Woolf: “He tied his heart to an oak tree.”
The Argyle ash is no exception. For Glaswegians, it is a familiar landmark, a source of shade and continuity. In a year when we’ve mourned the felling of Northumberland’s Sycamore Gap and countless ancient trees lost to disease, this story feels different. It is not a tale of loss, but of resilience . A living counter-narrative to absence and grief.
Beyond heritage and memory, trees are vital allies in the challenges of our age:
Climate guardians : absorbing CO₂, cooling our cities and anchoring soils.
Biodiversity havens : a mature oak can shelter over 2,300 species.
Wellbeing partners : studies show that access to trees improves both mental and physical health.
Yet, despite their importance, many of Britain’s historic and culturally significant trees lack meaningful protection. Campaigners are now calling for a national taskforce and a heritage tree database, to ensure these living landmarks are not erased by short-term planning or neglect.
At LettsSafari, we believe that the Argyle ash’s victory is more than a moment of celebration - it is a rallying call. Our mission is to protect, restore, and rewild nature, one project at a time. That means:
Planting new trees while safeguarding old ones.
Restoring habitats that allow trees, wildlife and people to thrive together.
Sharing the stories of trees like the Argyle ash to inspire a deeper connection with the living world.
Every LettsSafari subscription supports this mission: for every 10 subscribers we plant a tree, for every 100 we release an animal and for every 10,000 we open a new rewilding park. Together, we can turn admiration into action.
As arborist David Treanor reflected, “By interpreting trees and telling their stories, we can encourage understanding. That understanding leads to appreciation. And appreciation leads to protection.”
The Argyle Street ash is not just Glasgow’s tree. It is a symbol for us all: that when we celebrate, protect, and cherish the trees in our midst, we also nurture our own future.
This year, the UK has tied its heart to an ash tree on a city street. Let us keep that bond strong - for another 170 years, and beyond.
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