THE WINNER of the 2013 Tree of the Year poll in Slovakia is an English oak (also known as pedunculate oak, Quercus robur) that dominates a garden once belonging to doctor and writer Gustáv Kazimír Zechenter in downtown Kremnica, which received 1,955 votes.
This 350-year old tree will also represent Slovakia in the European Tree of the Year contest. Other trees to place high in the poll included a large-leaved linden (Tilia platyphyllos) from Toporec (in the Kežmarok region), with 1,491 votes, and a European beech (or common beech, Fagus sylvatica) from Ochodnica – Petránky (from the Kysucké Nové Mesto region), with 1,464 votes.
The goal of the poll, the 11th year of which was organised by the Nadácia Ekopolis / Ekopolis Foundation, is to draw general attention to old, precious or endangered trees and, more generally, to raise interest in the environment.
Several patrons and partners supported this year’s poll, one of whom, Peter Lipa (“lipa” means “linden” in Slovak), supported the contest for a second consecutive year.
Kremnica’s winning oak tree will also receive a material award in the form of a dendrology certificate from the ISA Slovensko (member of the European Arboricultural Council) and a financial voucher for expert treatment worth €333.
The trees that placed se-cond and third will also get a voucher for €333 that can be used for their treatment. In total, 12 trees from across Slovakia vied for the title, Ekopolis said.
