RESIDENTS are thrilled that the ‘oldest elm tree in the world’ has been shortlisted for a national tree award.

One of a well-known pair of English elms, often referred to as the Preston Twins, in Preston Park, has been nominated for Tree of the Year in the Woodland Trust’s annual tree competition. The competition throws the spotlight on the UK’s best trees to help drive interest in their value and protection.

Andy Bond of the Woodland Trust said: “We asked people to put forward trees that are special to them.

“After whittling down from hundreds of trees, we now have a list of ten that the public can vote on, one of them being this Brighton based elm which is estimated to be around 400 to 450 years old.”

Sue Shepard, chairman of the Friends of Preston Park group, said she is pleased the elm tree, dating back to Elizabethan times, has been nominated and has voted for it to be tree of the year.

She said: “This tree is very special to Brighton residents.

“We at Friends of Preston Park have voted for it because it is a rare tree, and both the twins represent the crowning glory of our national elm collection in the city.”

Ms Shepard said she feels the tree is suited to an award given its status as a survivor.

Both elm trees survived the 1987 hurricane, and in 2017, the larger of the two trees suffered a major loss when around half of its structure came down in high wind.

It was feared that the tree might not survive the damage, but after treatment by an arborist, the tree survived and is today standing proud for an award.

She said: “Winning this award would mean receiving £1,000 which would go towards finding the expertise and means to keep it alive for future generations to marvel at.”

Peter Bourne, volunteer elm inspector in Brighton, and elm curator, said the Dutch elm disease has ravaged this rare type of tree in Britain, and the species has been close to being wiped out.

Mr Bourne said: “We have been working on developing more awareness for these very rare trees for a long time so it is great that they have been shortlisted for this competition.”

He said Australia is home to the largest elm tree, but the ‘oldest in the world’ still stands in the corner of Preston Park, Brighton.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “We are delighted that one of the twins has been put forward for this award both because of the value of the individual tree but also as a reminder to us all of the very special situation we are in with the city’s magnificent elm tree stock.

“We’re very proud of the city’s unique position of holding the national elm collection.

“Since the particularly virulent form of elm disease hit the country in the 1970’s, both Brighton Borough Council, Hove Borough Council and subsequently the combined authority have made a determined effort to save the city’s elms.”