Celebrity trees naturally weave their way into our hearts, being entwined as they are in our landscapes, history, art and literature – witness the widespread sense of loss caused by the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree last year. But we need to celebrate their ecological value as well as their beauty.

The Skipinnish Oak, for instance, hosts diverse lichens such as the rare black-eyed Susan, while the venerable trees of Sherwood Forest provide a habitat for an abundance of creatures, including the uncommon hazel pot beetle that raises its larvae in pots lovingly fashioned from its own dung. 

Star status doesn’t necessarily protect a tree from destruction but it can at least enhance its chances of survival. The 250-year-old Cubbington Pear, a previous winner of Tree of the Year, was felled to make way for HS2, although its stump was relocated and now shows signs of regrowth. 

The same can’t be said for the countless unsung specimens that line our streets, grace our parks and gardens, and grow in hedges and scrublands. These trees don’t only improve air quality and provide vital habitats for birds and bugs, they also enrich our lives in deep, unfathomable ways and we need to cherish them. We’ll regret it once they’re gone.

England

1. Darwin Oak, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

This mighty oak, which is around 550 years old and has an impressive girth of 7m, was the runner-up at this year’s Tree of the Year contest, gaining 20 per cent of the public vote. It stands on the edge of a field on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, a short distance from The Mount, which was Charles Darwin’s childhood home. However, Shropshire council plans to fell it – along with eight other veteran trees – to make way for the Shrewsbury bypass. More than 100,000 people have signed a petition to save it, but whether they will succeed in doing so remains to be seen.