Two great local oaks in line for Tree of the Year

Two ancient oak trees in the Newtown area have been shortlisted in the Woodland Trust's annual Tree of the Year awards.

And you can vote for the tree you'd like to win Wales Tree of the Year.

The Brimmon Oak, made famous through the fight to save it from potential damage from the construction of the Newtown bypass, and the Gregynog Oak at Gregynog Hall, Tregynon, have both been shortlisted in the Wales finals of the awards, with the winning one going on to the UK national awards.

Mervyn Jones, on whose land the Brimmon Oak has stood for more than 500 years, has nominated his tree. Last year he hit the headlines with a campaign to have the Newtown bypass moved 15 metres so construction work did not affect the roots of the tree.

More than 5,000 signatures petitioned to have the bypass plans moved and the Welsh Government finally agreed.

The Gregynog Oak is the largest oak tree in the grounds of Gregynog Hall, at six metres in girth. It is believed it could have sprung from an acorn during the reign of Henry VIII.

You can vote for the Wales Tree of the Year by following this link: http://bit.ly/2cXpVIl

Photo: Merfyn Jones and broadcaster and wildlife expert Iolo Williams at the Brimmon Oak.