Polish Beech "Heart of the Dalkowskie Hills" Crowned European Tree of the Year 2025. Poland Defends Its Victory for the Fourth Time
The beech tree “Heart of the Dalkowskie Hills” from Poland wins the title of the European Tree of the Year 2025 with 147,553 votes. The second place takes Portuguese ficus tree “The Lovers Banyan Tree,” followed by the pine tree “Pino de Juan Molinera” from Spain. Overall, an incredible 401,262 valid votes have been cast for all 15 trees in the contest in 2025.
The Polish beech tree grows in the historical park in the city of Dalków. For the local community, the tree is seen as 'a heart that unites,' and tourists make wishes by throwing peanuts into a hole in the tree, believing it will make their dreams come true. This year, Poland is celebrating its fourth consecutive victory in the competition. The key to success is attributed to the local community, who nominated the tree for the contest, as well as the power of social media.
Jola Migdal from Klub Gaja, coordinator of the Tree of the Year contest in Poland, points out, “This is our next victory in this prestigious contest and a great celebration of trees. We would like to thank everyone involved in the promotion of the Polish Beech from Dalków – the entire local community centered around this historic tree, the Polish media and all tree lovers throughout Europe. I hope that the stories of the trees taking part in the contest will inspire us to take responsible actions to protect them and preserve them for future generations.”
The majestic Portuguese Moreton Bay Fig, which earned second place in the contest, was planted in the 19th century by an aristocratic tree collector as the result of seed exchanges with the Sydney Botanical Garden. Today, it stands as a beloved attraction in the Quinta das Lágrimas Gardens next to the Fountain of Lovers. The third place honors the Pino de Juan Molinera from Abengibre, a tree that has withstood centuries of challenges. Over the years, it has endured devastating floods, major snowstorms, and even a lightning strike, showcasing its resilience and historical significance.
The Award Ceremony, moderated by Mrs. Elena Visnar Malinovska and Mr. Ladislav Miko, takes place on March 19th at the European Parliament in Brussels. The whole ceremony is streamed and can be viewed at the YouTube channel of the contest. The two MEPs traditionally granting the contest their auspices, Luděk Niedermayer, and Michal Wiezik, have been joined by three distinguished patrons: MEP Danuše Nerudová, MEP Nicolae Ștefănuță and MEP César Luena.
MEP Michal Wiezik highlights that “Magnificent trees with stories are the best agents for building bridges between human society and nature seeking the mutual cooperation critical for survival of both.” This view is echoed by MEP Luděk Niedermayer, who points out: "At times when Europe faces geopolitical challenges and security concerns, nature conservation is often seen as less urgent. However, it is precisely in such moments that we must not forget what unites us and what we must protect—our natural environment. The European Tree of the Year competition reminds us that environmental protection is not a marginal issue but a fundamental question for our future. From local initiatives, such as caring for historic trees and urban greenery, to key political decisions at the European level, we demonstrate that nature is not sidelined in our priorities. Each of these trees tells a story of the deep connection between people and the landscape—something we must never take for granted."
The keynote address, along with the launch of a new award for those who contribute to planting 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030, will be delivered by a very special guest at the Award Ceremony, Director General Florika Fink-Hooijer of DG Environment from the European Commission.
“The European Tree of the Year award is a powerful reminder of the deep historical, cultural, and emotional connections people across the EU have with “their” trees. While we must protect our ancient trees, we must also plant new ones to combat the climate and biodiversity crisis. That is why today, we are launching the 3 Billion Trees Award—recognising innovative and impactful tree-planting projects across Europe. This initiative is part of the EU’s ambitious commitment to plant 3 billion additional trees by 2030, in line with our EU Biodiversity and Forest Strategies for 2030. By joining forces with the European Tree of the Year organisation, we aim to inspire a new generation of environmental stewardship in every corner of the EU,” comments Florika Fink-Hooijer.
