AN OAK tree planted in Glasgow almost 100 years ago as a tribute to the struggle faced by the city's suffragettes has been named Scotland's tree of the year.
The Suffragette Oak in Kelvingrove Park won a public vote from six trees that were shortlisted in a competition searching for the one best-loved by the nation.
It was planted on April 20 1918 by a number of suffrage organisations to mark women being granted the right to vote earlier that year.
The oak was nominated and championed by Glasgow Women's Library, who were presented with the Scottish Tree of the Year trophy during a reception in the Scottish Parliament.
The contest is organised by the Woodland Trust Scotland and supported by players of People's Postcode Lottery. Some of the other trees on the shortlist included Benmore's Giant Redwood, near Dunoon, and the Birnam Oak in Perthshire.
Wendy Kirk, from Glasgow Women's Library, said she was "thrilled" the Suffragette Oak was chosen as the winner.
"Being part of the competition has been a fantastic and fun-filled opportunity to celebrate, champion and raise awareness of the world-changing achievements of women," she said.
"I'm sure that the suffragettes would have been delighted to know that nearly 100 years on the tiny sapling they planted has become the Scottish tree of the year."
Carol Evans, director of the Woodland Trust Scotland, said: "One of the reasons for holding the competition is to uncover the hidden history that many trees represent and to encourage people to value and care for them.
"It's all too easy to walk by trees such as the Suffragette Oak without stopping to discover their heritage, but thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery its story will be better known."
The tree will now go up against those from 15 other countries to decide the 2016 European tree of the year.
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