Colchester Castle sycamore named national runner-up

A SYCAMORE which sits on top of Colchester Castle’s South East tower has been named as one of the best trees in England. Beaten to the top spot by the Allerton Oak in Liverpool.

The Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year saw ten specimens battle it out in a public vote in the annual competition – designed to highlight and celebrate the best trees in the country.

Adam Cormack, head of campaigning, at the Woodland Trust said: “Taking second place in a national competition for the nation’s favourite tree is a real achievement. The Colchester Castle Sycamore is a really special tree growing in a very unusual location.

The people of Colchester, and indeed anyone else that voted for the tree, can rightfully be proud that they’ve helped to put one of the nation’s most remarkable trees on the map.”

The sycamore has been on top of the tower for about 200 years and was initially planted to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 . The tree was then removed in 1985 so that the castle walls could undergo repairs. It survived its translocation and was put back in its original position in 1987 by the daughter of Sir Bob Russell, Mayor of Colchester at the time.

As runner up the tree is eligible for a £500 Tree Care Award which can be spent on works to benefit the tree’s health, signage, or a community celebration.

In total more than 11,000 people voted in the competition with the winner, Allerton Oak, claiming 3,716 votes and the Colchester sycamore receiving 1,371 votes.

Third place went to the Dragon Tree on the Isle of Wight with 1,281 votes.

Visitors to Colchester can view the tree in situ on top of the castle.