The forest at Mógilsá is a national forest owned by the Icelandic state, for which Land and Forest Iceland has statutory responsibility. Ágúst Sigurðsson, Director General of Land and Forest Iceland, therefore received the Tree of the Year certificate when the ash was formally honoured at a ceremony held yesterday, 22 September.

In 1961, King Olav V of Norway visited Iceland bearing a gift. He presented the Icelandic nation with a donation from the Norwegian people in gratitude for Icelandic assistance to Norway during the Second world war years. The gift was intended to support forestry and its development in Iceland. It was decided that most of the funds would be used to establish a forestry research station, while the remainder would be devoted to strengthening ties between Icelandic and Norwegian forestry. This included exchanges of young people between the two countries for forestry work, as well as reciprocal visits by forestry professionals.

The ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior) planted by Crown Prince Harald when the Mógilsá research station was inaugurated has flourished over the years, as demonstrated by measurements taken as part of the programme during the Tree of the Year ceremony. The tree was found to be 15.1 metres tall, with a diameter at breast height of 30 centimetres.

Several speeches were delivered during the event, which began with Marianne Kvan, representative of the Norwegian Embassy in Iceland and Sara Hafbergsdóttir from Lambhagi, unveiling a plaque commemorating the tree. Musical entertainment was provided by the Tinda Trio, comprising Atli Guðlaugsson and his sons, Bjarni and Guðlaugur. Refreshments were provided courtesy of the Icelandic Forestry Association and Lambhagi, sponsor of the Tree of the Year programme. The photographs accompanying this article are by Ágúst Sigurðsson.