We are delighted and proud to announce that Blome’s Fairy Tale Oak has been shortlisted for the public vote in the “European Tree of the Year in Latvia 2026” competition. Vote by November 10 and help it win the title!

You can vote on the competition’s website. The tree that receives the most votes will be declared the winner.

The winning tree’s story will be submitted to the international voting round of the “European Tree of the Year” competition. If necessary, a clean-up event will be organised around the tree. An information sign will also be installed, and a video telling the tree’s story will be produced. The second- and third-place winners will receive consolation prizes.

Together, we can make it happen!

About Blome’s Fairy Tale Oak

Nature and its treasures are among the greatest assets of Smiltene Municipality. Its rolling forested hills, picturesque nature trails, parks, lakes and meadows offer breathtaking beauty, restore energy, provide a sense of harmony and invite people to enjoy outdoor activities throughout the year. Nature has a magnetic appeal, attracting visitors from near and far. It not only delights the senses but also preserves stories and fosters a sense of belonging. One such example is Blome’s Fairy Tale Oak – a symbol of the parish that welcomes everyone passing by, whether on foot or by car.

Legend / History

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In the post-war years, a collective farm called “Uzvara” (“Victory”) was established in Blome Parish. During its existence, construction began on a road connecting the parish to Cēsis. According to local legend, the chairman of the collective farm at the time forbade the felling of an oak tree growing alongside the new road. The oak’s five mighty branches were said to symbolise the unification of five smaller collective farms (“Uzvara”, “Pamats”, “Arājs”, “Sējējs” and “Sarkanā Zvaigzne”) into one.
Since then, the tree has become a symbol of Blome Parish. It is a remarkable example of how a single natural landmark can preserve the memory of local history, even long after the historical era itself has passed.

Natural Value

Blome’s Fairy Tale Oak is an English oak (Quercus robur) – a tree species of particular importance to Latvia’s landscape and natural heritage. Its value is further enhanced by its impressive size: in 2015, the tree’s circumference measured 5.27 metres at a height of 1.3 metres above the ground.

The oak’s value goes far beyond the circumference of its trunk. Old and large oak trees are important habitats that, throughout their long lifespans, can provide shelter and feeding opportunities for numerous species of fungi, lichens, insects, birds and other organisms.

The tree’s natural value is made even more significant by its long history within a human-shaped landscape. It has survived in a place where human activity could once have led to its felling.

Significance in the Landscape

The Fairy Tale Oak stands in a symbolic location beside the road, where it is visible to both local residents and passers-by. Located approximately 1.3 kilometres from the centre of Blome, it is one of the first landmarks that gives visitors a sense of Blome’s landscape and local identity.

The oak is not exceptionally tall or massive, but its distinctive branching pattern and shape make it truly unique. The Fairy Tale Oak is a visual symbol of Blome – a tree that not only stands in a particular place but also helps people recognise and identify with it.

The Fairy Tale Oak Through the Eyes of Locals

Local residents have embraced the Fairy Tale Oak as a symbol of their parish. Ilona Zandmane, a proud resident of Blome and a passionate advocate for her local community, shares what the tree means to her:
“The Fairy Tale Oak, Riņģi Oak, the Mighty Oak, the Healer. A wise man once visited the tree and described it as a place of powerful energy. Leaning your back against its mighty trunk brings a sense of peace, even though the oak stands beside a busy road. Sunlight filters through its majestic branches, and its rays shining through the green canopy draw your gaze upwards, filling you with strength, light and love.
Times change, but true greatness, peace and steadfastness remain, embodied in this oak. And we can only imagine how strong and powerful its roots must be!
Don’t just pass by – stop for a moment! Press yourself against the trunk of this centuries-old oak, look up and say ‘thank you’! Listen to the rustling of its leaves, and they will tell you so much. You will hear your inner voice. Sing the traditional Latvian folk songs of strength and resilience, and the oak will help you believe in their power.”.”

Blome’s Fairy Tale Oak deserves to be named “European Tree of the Year in Latvia 2026” because it is a witness to local history, a symbol of Blome Parish, a distinctive feature of the landscape and a valuable part of the natural heritage that has stood alongside the human-shaped environment for decades.
Its branches preserve the legend of the unification of five former collective farms, which helped shape the Blome Parish we know today. The tree also provides a habitat for various plant and animal species.
The Fairy Tale Oak reminds us that greatness is measured not only by a tree’s height or trunk circumference, but also by its ability to become part of a place’s memory, identity and sense of belonging.
It is a tree with its own character, its own story and a special place in people’s hearts – a tree whose story deserves to be heard not only in Blome, but throughout Latvia and across Europe.

 

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Written by: Madara Mūrniece-Krūmiņa, Communications and Marketing Specialist