In a world full of division, anger and heartbreak it’s cathartic to have something uncontroversial that we can all sit back and admire. That’s what the European Tree of the Year gives us. Since 2011 the competition has brought together a selection of the most unique and beautiful trees from across the continent. Each country that wants to participate holds a national contest carried out by local organisers, usually an NGO. Sometimes these national contests are put to the people to choose their favourite national tree and sometimes it’s a committee that decides. When the process is completed ea…