Under an already well-established practice, on 1 February 2014 online voting will begin to single out the European Tree of the Year from among nominations made in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, France and the United Kingdom. The idea that originated in the Czech Republic four years ago, has been supported by EU Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik. Magnificent Bulgarian trees with quite amusing stories have already won one third and one second places in the rankings. Now there is the ambition to win the race. This year Bulgaria’s nomination is a huge millennial elm-tree standing in the town of Sliven, Eastern Bulgaria which won in a close national nomination event.
By tradition, among nominated species, oak, plane and elm-trees dominate as ancient trees come most often from among them and also, because Bulgarians love them most. In 2013 nominations that came to the total of 30, five trees with millennial history cannot but give rise to deep respect. The runners-up of the Sliven elm-tree are more than impressive. However, it seems that Sliven residents proved greater patriots than others in the online voting. Their venerable tree, the symbol of Sliven, won a sweeping “election” victory.
Ranking third is a millennial oriental plane in the village of Belashtitsa, near Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria. This tree has witnessed fateful moments in Bulgarian history. We go back to legends together with Lubomira Koltcheva, CEO of Eco Community Foundation, organizer of the competition in Bulgaria.
"By this tree Byzantine military commander Nicephorus Xyphus born in the Bulgarian lands, built a large castle and a stronghold. According to the legends, the powerful Bulgarian Tsar Kaloyan once tied his horse to it. And the locals often associate the plane tree with the story of the Bulgarian soldiers of Tsar Samuil blinded by Byzantine Emperor Basil the Murderer of Bulgarians. These soldiers actually founded the village. To the millennial tree great poet Pencho Slavelykov devoted his love poem Inseparable. The magnificent tree has been immortalized in a striking Belashtitsa landscape of great Bulgarian 20 c. painter Zlatyu Boyadzhiev.”
According to a legend quoted in Wikipedia, Nicephorus Xyphus, the governor of Philopopolis (present-day Plovdiv) had a vital contribution into the defeat of Tsar Samuil in 1014 in Belasitsa Mountain. As a token of gratitude, Emperor Basil II handed over to him 15,000 of the Bulgarian captives. The blinded warriors accommodated in this place founded the village originally called Belasitsa and later transformed into Belashtitsa.
The Sliven elm-tree earned more votes than another dignified tree, the oak in the village of Granit, the region of Stara Zagora, Southern Bulgaria, aged 1670 years. This is in fact the oldest tree in the Balkans and most probably across Europe. The oak has been nominated by Svetlana Nantcheva, member of the Professional Forum for Education Society.
"The oak of Granit is something very personal to me”, she says. “It is so, because my father was born in that village. The millennial tree is a totem for all people living in the region. My husband dubbed it the oldest living Thracian soul and I liked this definition very much. However, the ancient oak needs help, because it is now only half-alive, and unless we help it, it might go.”
The winner in the Bulgarian nominations is also quite impressive and with an amusing history. It is the Sliven elm-tree. From the total of 10,000 online votes, more than 6000 supported its nomination.
„The old elm-tree is one of the symbols of the town of Sliven”, the town’s mayor Kolio Milev says. “It has a central location, in the town’s main street. The tree is aged more than 1100 years, the fragment of the great Bulgaria forest that stretched from here to the Black Sea coast. We do a lot to protect this symbol of the town and it is still at the heart of public life. All couples in love, and newlyweds take photos with the old giant. Its venerable age and regal presence evoke respect for the glorious past of the town.”
Apart from the right to run for European Tree of the Year, the winner in the national poll also receives a special prize. It is the delivery of specialized healthcare services. Experts are going to inspect the condition of the tree and will suggest all necessary measures of conservation for the extension of its precious life. After all, we have to bear in mind that venerable trees are fragile; they need our help as practice has abundantly shown.
With a touch of sadness we recall how the Bulgarian nominee for European Tree of 2012, the 700-year-old elm-tree in the village of Nissovo, Rousse region, Northeastern Bulgaria, was some time after the nomination found knocked down on the bank of the Roussenski Lom River, most probably as a result of humidity and winds.
Let us wish success in the race for European Tree of 2013 to the millennial elm-tree in Sliven. Voting opens on 1 February on the website http://www.treeoftheyear.org.
English Daniela Konstantinova
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