THE Isle of Wight’s legendary Dragon Tree has come third in the Woodland Trust’s tree of the year competition.

In addition to the glory of being named one of the country's favourite trees, the trust will also award a £500 care grant that can be spent on works to benefit the tree’s health, signage, or a community celebration.

Overall winner was the Allerton Oak in Liverpool, with the Colchester Castle Sycamore a close second.

The trust's Adam Cormach said: “Taking third place in a national competition for the nation’s favourite tree is a real achievement.

“The Dragon Tree is a very special tree and people of the Isle of Wight, and indeed anyone else that voted for the tree, can rightfully be proud they’ve helped to put one of the nation’s best trees on the map.”

The mighty Brighstone oak has one massive limb that forms a bridge over the Buddle Brook — which was used to power the nearby village mill before it was closed in the 1960s.

It is thought the oak took its unique shape after it was blown down in a storm, but, supported by its existing branches, managed to re-root.

However, folklore contends the tree was once a dragon that terrorised locals until a knight, recently returned from the crusades, fought the beast. When he struck the fatal blow, the dragon turned to wood and laid down roots, becoming the tree that forms such an integral part of the local landscape.

Award winning horticulturalist and TV personality David Domoney, who has supported the competition, said: “The entrants this year illustrate perfectly the unique nature of our native trees.”

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