After no nominations for a Tree of the Year from the first tree in 1989 the project was re-launched in 1993, with expanded criteria (rarity, historical interest, beauty, unique positions etc.) with a birch tree in Fljótsdalur selected by the forest farmer Helgi Hallgrímsson as the Tree of the Year 1993. The tree stands in Skógarbali on the land of the farm Vallholt, along with four other birch trees, that have been nicknamed “eikurnar á Skógarbala” (“the oaks at Skógarbali”, large trees in the area have traditionally been referred to as “oaks”) and that are the last remnants of a large birch forest that used to cover the area. A local poet has written an ode to the tree, and the cluster of birch trees used to be a popular rest spot for travellers. The trees date back to the late 19th century, so are well over a century old.
Location on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/R4uS8v6sFsoVEgPZ9
