Yorkshire tree that tells a 100-year-old love story competes in European contest

Beech saplings grafted into an ‘N’ to woo a sweetheart named Nellie is UK’s entry in the European Tree of the Year competition

Nellie’s tree is competing in the European Tree of the Year competition (Rob Grange/WTML/PA / Chris Lund/PA)

A trio of beeches grafted into an N-shape to woo a sweetheart named Nellie is going up against trees across Europe in a bid to win European Tree of the Year.

The public are being urged to get behind Nellie’s tree, which convincingly won the nationwide contest to find the UK Tree of the Year in the autumn, as it competes with winners from 14 other countries for the Europe-wide crown.

The tree’s unusual shape was created nearly 100 years ago by Vic Stead, who walked along the old colliery railway from his home in Garforth, near Leeds, to visit Nellie, the young woman he was courting who lived in nearby Aberford.

When one day he came across three beech saplings on his route, he grafted one sapling between the other two to form the letter “N” in an attempt to woo his sweetheart.

The romantic gesture worked, with Vic and Nellie going on to marry and have a family.

Nellie’s tree, which is also known as the love tree by locals, is a popular spot for couples to pop the big question.

The love story of Vic and Nellie Stead which created Nellie’s tree inspired the public (Chris Lund/PA)

The Woodland Trust is asking people to vote for Nellie’s tree in the European Tree of the Year competition as it goes up against the likes of the Czech Republic’s lime tree of liberty, France’s bird-tree and Poland’s kneeling tree.

The conservation charity runs the UK’s Tree of the Year contest, with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, to showcase the country’s best trees and encourage interest in their value and protection.

Vic Stead fashioned three saplings into an ‘N’ for his sweetheart Nellie (Chris Lund/PA)

The best result for the UK in the European finale to date was in 2017, when Wales’ Brimmon oak, a 500-year-old tree which was saved from being felled for a bypass following a public campaign, came second.

Polls are now open for this year’s vote and the Woodland Trust is urging people to help Nellie’s tree scoop the top prize.

TV gardener and Woodland Trust ambassador David Domoney said the UK winner’s story was rooted in romance and had captured the public’s imagination.

Nellie’s tree is going up against trees across Europe (Rob Grange/WTML/PA)

“We love our trees in the UK but we have to protect them from needlessly being cut down in our towns and cities, and it is especially true of our important trees that have been around for decades – they must be saved for many future generations to enjoy.

“Now let’s see how our British tree can fare in Europe.

“Help us to make Nellie’s tree the winner of the European Tree of the Year awards so we can join the chorus in Europe to demand better recognition for the important role of trees.”