THE 140-year-old SLOVAK plane tree from the municipality of Komjatice placed among the top five trees in the 2013 European Tree of the Year competition. Last year, it won the Slovak round of the competition, thus making it to the European round.
In 2012, pupils of the elementary school in Komjatice entered the tree into the contest, and they won €333 for maintenance of the tree as part of the prize, the SITA newswire wrote. The tree was planted in the 1870s on the grounds of a mansion near the Nitra River, which was at the time inhabited by Count Móric Wodianer.
The winner of the European contest, also a plane tree, is located near a thermal spa in Eger, Hungary, followed by yet another plane tree, in Kozy, Poland. An Irish royal oak in Tullamore, Ireland came in third place, and a small-leaved linden tree in South Morava claimed fourth. Komjatice’s plane tree took fifth place with 3,876 votes, followed by three Bulgarian trees.
The third year of the competition was announced by the Nadace Partnerství / Environmental Partnership foundation from the Czech city of Brno in cooperation with other state, private and European institutions. The goal of the internet poll was to call attention to unique European trees as crucial forms of natural and historical heritage, which deserve more attention and protection than they currently receive, the Slovak partner, Nadácia Ekopolis foundation, told SITA.
8. Apr 2013 at 0:00 | Compiled by Spectator staff
