Media Release
Public rooting for Edinburgh Tree in national final
The sabal palm or bibby tree at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is the front runner in
Scotland’s Tree of the Year competition.
Latest results reveal that the 200-year-old tree has 312 votes, with Benmore Botanic
Garden’s giant redwood in second place with 260 votes and the Suffragette Oak close behind with 232 votes.
Scottish Tree of the Year is an annual search for the nation’s best loved tree, organised by the Woodland Trust Scot land and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
The winning tree is decided by public voting which is takes place until Monday 12 October through the Woodland Trust’s website.
The sabal is the oldest known plant in the collection at the Botanics. Residing in the Tropical
Palm House, it is one of only two remaining plant specimens which grew first in the Leith
Walk Botanic Garden, RBGE’s previous site, and transported by horse-drawn plant transporter to its new home at Inverleith in 1822.
When it first arrived at Inverleith the sabal spent the first 13 years in a lean-to glasshouse but it suffered from lack of space and in 1835 it was moved to the Octagonal Palm House, now the Tropical Palm House, which had been constructed the previous year.
When the Temperate Palm House opened in 1858 the sabal and other palms were moved into the new house. At this time it was estimated that the sabal and its rootball weighed seven or eight tons. In 1874 the sabal was moved back to the Tropical Palm House where it remains today.
The sabal palm or bibby tree, as it is known on its native island of Bermuda, is now under threat in the wild from introduced, faster-growing oriental plants.
David Knott, Curator of the Living Collection at RBGE commented: “In this the year when
RBGE finally completes the move from Leith Walk with the reconstruction of the Botanics
Cottage as a centre for learning and community engagement it is fitting that the last surviving plant from this move and one of the oldest living specimens cultivated in the Garden the

Sabal Palm, Sabal bermudana has been shortlisted for this award. There are very few plants in the Gardens that have such an impressive history and pedigree stretching back over 200 years. It is heartening to know that so many members of the public are voting for the tree. I hope the support continues.’’
Carol Evans, director of the Woodland Trust Scotland, said: “Tree of the Year is all about finding trees with amazing stories to tell that can bring people together.
“It’s fantastic that players of People’s Postcode Lottery are lending their support to this unique celebration of Scotland’s best loved trees. All of the shortlisted entries are inspiring through their links to natural and cultural heritage, and I’m sure it will be a close run vote this year.”
The winner of Scottish Tree of the Year will go on to compete in the European Tree of the
Year 2016 against trees from 15 other countries including France, Estonia and Germany.
To vote for your favourite tree in Scottish Tree of the Year visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk
/treeoftheyear
ENDS
For further information or images, please contact Sandra Donnelly on 0131 248 1037 or
Shauna Hay on 0131 248 2900.
Editor’s Notes:
Tree
Bibby Tree
Benmore’s Giant Redwood
Suffragette Oak
Birnam Oak
The Clachan Oak
Poker Tree
Votes
312
260
232
201
108
44
The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is a leading international research organisation delivering knowledge, education and plant conservation action in more than 50 countries around the world. In Scotland its four Gardens at Edinburgh, Benmore, Dawyck and Logan attract nearly a million visitors each year. It operates as a Non Departmental
Public Body established under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, principally funded by the Scottish Government. It is also a registered charity, managed by a Board of Trustees

appointed by Ministers. Its mission is “To explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”.
Learn more: www.rbge.org.uk