Lithuania's 400-Year-Old Laukiai Oak Crowned Europe's Tree of the Year

A 400-year-old oak in Lithuania has won Europe's Tree of the Year competition. The Laukiai Oak stood quietly in its village until locals revived the area around it last year. The contest celebrates trees with remarkable ties to their communities rather than just beauty. The Environmental Partnership Association has run the competition every year since 2011. It highlights trees that bring people and nature closer together. This year's winner, the Laukiai Oak, remained little-known until villagers began promoting it about a year ago.

A wild apple tree from Slovakia took second place. Growing in the village of Diel, it has survived over 150 years of harsh weather. Poland's 'Crooked Tree', a strangely bent elm near a ruined castle in Szysłowiec, came in third.

The contest does not judge trees on looks alone. Instead, it focuses on their stories and connections to local life. Portugal also participates, with its own national competition feeding into the European event. The Laukiai Oak now holds the title of Europe's Tree of the Year. Its victory follows a year of renewed interest from villagers who restored the area around it. The competition continues to spotlight trees that shape the identity of their communities.