The King of Limbs oak comes second in the UK's Tree of the Year

The King of Limbs, the oak in Savernake Forest that gave Radiohead's 2011 album its title, has come second in the Woodland Trust's Tree of the Year with 24% of the public vote. The winner, announced on 25 September, is the ash on Argyle Street in Glasgow, the only tree on one of the city's busiest roads. The Lonely Tree at Llyn Padarn in north Wales was third with 13%.

This year's shortlist of ten, announced in July, was of trees “rooted in culture” that have inspired writers, artists and musicians. The oak's entry told the story fans know. Radiohead found the tree in a guidebook to the forest while recording nearby, named the album after it, and it shaped Stanley Donwood's cover and his other work for the record.

The Trust reckons the oak, near Marlborough, is more than 1,000 years old. It was pollarded until the 19th century, its branches cut back again and again to make them regrow, and that is what gave it the limbs of its name.

The King of Limbs oak in Savernake Forest· ogitrev5002watch on youtube →