The Lonely Tree was a

Scots pine ''Pinus sylvestris'', the Scots pine (UK), Scotch pine (US), Baltic pine, or European red pine is a species of tree in the pine family Pinaceae that is native to Eurasia. It can readily be identified by its combination of fairly short, blue-gr ...

on a hill near

Llanfyllin Llanfyllin ( – ) is a market town and Community (Wales), community in Powys, Wales. The community (which measures 41.8 square kilometres) population in 2021 was 1,586 and the town's name means ''church or parish'' (Llan (placename), llan) ''o ...

Powys Powys ( , ) is a Principal areas of Wales, county and Preserved counties of Wales, preserved county in Wales. It borders Gwynedd, Denbighshire, and Wrexham County Borough, Wrexham to the north; the English Ceremonial counties of England, ceremo ...

, Wales. Visible from much of the town it was a local landmark with several traditions attached to it. The tree was blown over during a storm in February 2014, and despite efforts to save it, the tree was found to be dead in June 2015. The tree was voted Welsh Tree of the Year for 2014 and finished tenth in the

European Tree of the Year European, or Europeans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe and other We ...

awards for 2015. Seventeen saplings have been planted nearby in the hope that one will grow to replace the tree.

Description and history

The Lonely Tree was a

(''Pinus sylvestris'') located on top of the high Green Hall Hill overlooking the town of

, Wales and was visible from much of the town. The tree is thought to have seeded before 1815 and was classed as a

veteran tree A veteran tree is one that has ancient features but not the great age of an ancient tree, and is a tree of great cultural, landscape, or biodiversity value due to its ecological and habitat features. Definition Ancient trees exist in many forms a ...

. The tree was in girth and was noted to have been suffering from decaying wood in its

crown A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, parti ...

and from hollowing of its branches. The tree was a popular local landmark and also an attraction for hill walkers. The site was used as a scout camp site and part of the cross country course for the local school. It was also the site of one of the millennium beacons. Many traditions attached themselves to the tree with local people carving their initials on it, proposing marriage near it and having their ashes scattered there. The tree was used as the symbol of Llanfyllin Town Council.

Felling and replacement

The Lonely Tree was blown over by winds during a

storm A storm is any disturbed state of the natural environment or the atmosphere of an astronomical body. It may be marked by significant disruptions to normal conditions such as strong wind, tornadoes, hail, thunder and lightning (a thunderstor ...

in February 2014. In an attempt to save the tree, locals brought between 30 and 60 tonnes of soil up the hill, using equipment donated by local companies, to place over its roots to prevent them drying out. There were hopes that the tree would regrow from the rootstock. Hundreds of people visited the site after the storm to pay their respects to the tree. Donations of several hundred pounds were received from Welsh expatriates towards the care of the tree. Llanfyllin town mayor Ann Williams said at the time: "The Lonely Tree is such a strong symbol of how much a community can stick together and keep something alive." The tree received significant attention after it fell. It was voted "Wales's third favourite special place" in 2014 and in October of that year was entered into the Welsh Tree of the Year competition. The tree won the competition, and as a result, was entered into the

competition in 2015, finishing tenth with 1,548 votes. Planning for a replacement of the tree by the town council began in April 2015 and discussions were held about installing a memorial plaque if it did not recover. In June it was confirmed that the tree had diedits remains were left in situ and seeds were taken from it in the hope of growing a new tree. By December of that year seventeen saplings had been planted in a new fenced enclosure nearby with the hope that at least one would survive to become as iconic as the Lonely Tree. One sapling was a descendant of the original tree, one was from seeds collected locally and the remainder were donated by a plant nursery.

References

{{Reflist, 30em Individual trees in Wales Individual pine trees 2010s individual tree deaths Cultural heritage of Wales Llanfyllin