The European tree of the year 2017 – Voting has been started!

16 countries are involved in the 7th year of the prestige environmental competition The European tree of the year. During the month of February people can vote for their favourite tree on the website www.treeoftheyear.org. Slovakia is in this competition represented by 270 years old plane tree from Budatín, the winner of the slovak inquiry The tree of the year 2016.

Every year there are thousands of people involved in this competition and the number of countries has raised from original 5 to 16. In this year‘ s inquiry there are trees with their stories from England, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech republic, Estonia, France, Ireland, Lithuania, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Spain and Wales. Slovakia is represented in the competition The european tree of the year by The tree of the year which is plane tree from Budatín.

„This plane tree is one of the largest plane trees in Budatín park, who was based during the reign of Count Ján Suňog in 1745. Near this large healthy tree grows another plane tree, but this one is small, sick and hollow. Two plane trees growing together as two different brothers however their roots are inseparably bound together.“ says Milan Hronec, program manager of the Ekopolis foundation.

The voting for The European tree of the year is running on during the whole month of February on the website www.treeoftheyear.org. For the winning tree, which will receive the title of the European tree of the year, there’s a financial contribution dedicated to the professional treatment or to the tree planting in its surrounding.

„Last year in the inquiry The European tree of the year, the pear from Bošáca ended up on the third place with the number of votes more than 29 000. We believe that this year, even more supporters will vote for the slovak representant. We are keeping crossed fingers for him and we are very curious, how many fans he has in Slovakia“ adds Milan Hronec

The competition The European tree of the year began in 2011. The purpose is to present interesting old trees as an important natural and cultural treasure, which we should value and protect. In The European tree of the year in contrast with different competitions, beauty, seize or age are not important, but the story and the connection with people. The international competition is organised by Environmental Partnership Association, whose member is also The Ekopolis Foundation.

More information about the inquiry The European tree of the year: www.treeoftheyear.org

Photos for download: http://www.treeoftheyear.org/Pro-media.aspx

Contacts:

Milan Hronec, coordinator of the inquiry The Tree of the year in Slovakia, The Ekopolis Foundation, hronec@ekopolis.sk, 048 / 470 10 95,0911 452 457.