A 150-year-old wych elm on the promenade in Newcastle, County Down, has been voted the UK's Tree of the Year. The tree, known locally as the bendy tree, is the first in Northern Ireland to win the annual competition run by the Woodland Trust.

The wych elm received more than 30% of the public vote, beating nine other trees from across the UK. The competition's theme this year was Against All Odds, highlighting trees that have survived adversity.

The tree's trunk grows almost horizontally due to persistent winds from the Irish Sea. It was originally planted in the mid-19th century as part of a row of wych elms intended to shelter the promenade from sea breezes. The others were felled during redevelopment in the 1980s, leaving this one as the sole survivor.

It has also resisted Dutch elm disease, a fungal infection that destroyed most of the UK's 30 million elms in the 1960s.

John Martin, director of the Woodland Trust in Northern Ireland, said the tree's resilience over 150 years made it a worthy winner. He noted that a bench has been placed under the tree, providing shade for people to sit and enjoy views of the Mournes and the sea.

May Chemais, the trust's ancient tree inventory lead, described the tree as astonishing and bizarre, having been blasted by extreme winds for over a century. She said it has adapted and flourished into an unusual shape that provides shade and joy to the community. Chemais added that older trees like this one contribute to a community's culture, providing shade and stories.

The tree is a popular meeting spot and photography subject and is well-known in the local community.

Northern Ireland has one of the lowest rates of woodland cover in Europe at 8.7%, behind Scotland, Wales, England, and the Republic of Ireland. A tree-planting action plan has set a target of 12% woodland cover by 2050.