Contest of the tree of the year 2025: call for candidates

A citizen competition to reveal the heritage value of the trees

Each tree, a singular story to tell. This is how we could summarize the spirit of the Contest of the Tree of the Year which reveals incredible stories every year. Like that of black poplar of Boul-sur-Suippe, which, thanks to the enthusiasm aroused, allowed the creation of a small public garden around the tree. Or the beech of the canyon in Moselle, seeming suspended from its cliff, which made its inhabitants discover an unknown natural place, close to their home.

If these stories awaken in you memories, know that the call for candidates for the tree of the year is extended until August 31, 2025. A unique opportunity to highlight a tree with history, emotion, and social ties on your territory.

“The first objective of this competition is to educate the general public about the protection of trees,” recalls Pauline Cecotti, organizer of the competition. “Too often, they are considered to be simple urban furniture, when they have as much value as a small chapel or an element of the built heritage.”

This citizen competition, organized since 2011 by Terre Sauvage magazine and the National Forest Office, in partnership with the trees association, invites all communities, associations, schools and individuals to apply.

Trees, a witness to our history to preserve

More than the simple description, the competition values a meeting and a story. “You have to ask the question of its history, what it represents,” insists Pauline. “In the application file, we ask to point out the presence of biodiversity such as nests, squirrels or even insects.” Proof that trees are a living witness on our planet to be preserved.

But what matters above all is the link between the tree and its candidate. “This is the story that the tree carries, what it evokes, what it has gone through. Some have protected soldiers, others have seen generations marry under their branches, or survived a fire, showing strong resilience, “she adds.

A competition open to all

“You have to dare to get started!” This year, some regions receive few candidates, such as Burgundy-Franche-Comté, Occitania or Normandy. The participants in these territories therefore have their chances, ”encourages Pauline Cecotti.

And for those who hesitate: “Many people think that you have to own the tree, when it is not the case,” says Pauline. Each candidate thus becomes a megaphone, mobilizing those around him around this collective project often charged with emotion.

This personal link with the trees reflects a broader trend: an increasing awareness of their importance in our daily environments. “The way in which we perceive trees has changed in recent years”, underlines Pauline. “We talk much more about their role, whether in town, in gardens or forests. With heat waves, hot weather, we have become more sensitive to their presence. ”