A Dutch tree enthusiast who travelled hundreds of miles to visit a famous oak tree in the Scottish Highlands will be reunited with the band that gave it its name – as the Skipinnish Oak was crowned Tree of the Year 2024.
The tree in Lochaber beat off competition from 11 other contenders to win the award and is hidden away, and was even forgotten about and unknown to modern tree experts until the Skipinnish ceilidh band played for a gathering of the Native Woodland Discussion Group at Fort William.
The band told the group about the tree with co-founder Andrew Stevenson then showing them it the next day, with Skipinnish now set to compose a new song about the tree to be debuted next year when they perform at the Hydro.
They aren’t the only people he’s given guided tours to either, with a Dutch tourist visiting earlier this year and bumping into Mr Stevenson without knowing who he was.
The piper made an appeal to find the visitor in The Herald earlier this month and they will be reunited at the band’s Glasgow gig next year.
Bas Visscher, 42, travelled to Lochaber from the Dutch village of Rheden near the city of Arnhem and it was his girlfriend who spotted the article online and told him about it.
He has links to Scotland himself, having completed his practical tree training period with the Scottish Wildlife Trust on the Isle of Eigg.
The European tree technician also first came into contact with trad music while on the island and he’s excited to return to Scotland next year and meet up with Skipinnish again.
He said: “I was excited to hear that Skipinnish were looking to make contact following my visit to Lochaber. It was pure chance that I asked Andrew for directions to the oak and he was incredibly kind to give me a special tour and explain all he knew about it.
“As someone who works with trees all the time I was fascinated by it before I’d seen it but feel I know so much more about the tree since my visit and Andrew’s talk.
“I am now looking forward to coming back to Scotland in September 2025 to hear the band live.
“I really enjoy Skipinnish's music, lyrics and sound and know their gigs have an amazing atmosphere. I can't wait to part of that along with 14000 other fans.
"Maybe when I am over for the OVO Hydro gig I will pay another visit to the Skipinnish Oak as I now have a greater appreciation of its story."
Mr Visscher’s girlfriend, Miriam Sanders, is an artist and he hopes that could even lead to an album cover in the future.
He added: “It would be a nice idea to ask her to paint the Skipinnish Oak with fallen leaves of the tree and soil from the place where it grows. I see a nice album cover.
Mr Stevenson said: “It’s great that we’ve managed to make contact with Bas and to invite him along to our OVO Hydro concert in September 2025.
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“We will guarantee a great night of music for him and the 14,000 others who will hear the debut performance of the song we will compose to honour the Skipinnish Oak and be able to enjoy the world-renowned Fisherman’s Friends who will open the concert for us.”
“I am very much looking forward to meeting Bas again and, if time allows, make another visit to the 1000 year old Skipinnish Oak with him to share more stories of its heritage and enjoy its magical surroundings.”
The tree will now go on to represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year competition but winning the UK version is something Mr Stevenson is thrilled about, having first heard about the tree from his father as a young kid.
Mr Stevenson added: “I am delighted that The Skipinnish Oak has won Tree of the Year! The tree has held a special place in my heart since my father first described it to me, and the first time I saw it many years ago.”
The Skipinnish Oak earned 21 percent of the total online vote, with the runner up being the Darwin Oak in Shrewsbury at 20 percent.
Dr Kate Lewthwaite from the Woodland Trust said: “The Skipinnish Oak is a magnificent example of the natural heritage we strive to protect, and its recognition as UK Tree of the Year shines a light on the incredible biodiversity that our trees support.
“We encourage everyone to celebrate and preserve these vital features of our environment.”
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