TWO trees in Monmouthshire have been nominated in a shortlist of seven trees in the Wales Tree of the Year competition.

The Woodland Trust, with support from the People’s Postcode Lottery, is inviting the public to vote for their favourite Welsh tree before October 12th. The winner will go forward into the European Tree of the Year competition in early 2016.

The two Monmouthshire trees that have been shortlisted are the Bettws Newydd Yew found in Bettws Newydd churchyard, four miles from Usk, and the Wyesham Oak from Wyesham, Monmouth.

The Bettws Newydd Yew has a girth of 10 metres, and is visually very striking, as within the shell of the tree is a new generation of the tree derived form an aerial root.

The Wyesham Oak is believed to be over a thousand years old, and was retained when the village was enlarged after the first world war, with Oak Crescent being designed around it. In 2010 the tree collapsed after a storm, but it survived and began to throw out new shoots.

Beccy Speight, the Woodland Trust Chief Eexcutive, said: “This contest reminds us how trees have been an integral part of this country’s history and play an important role in our lives today. We still need better protection for individual trees across the UK and we hope everyone who votes will also support our campaign to creature a register for all our Trees of National Special Interest.”

To see all of the shortlists and vote for your favourite tree, visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/treeoftheyear