AN EXHIBITION showcasing the magnificence of oak trees is on display at the Yorkshire Arboretum.

Celebrating Our Oaks, a special category of the International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) competition, has been developed in partnership with Action Oak – a major initiative to protect the UK’s oak trees.

The exhibition is supported by HSBC and showcases the competition finalists’ photographs, as well as those by a number of celebrities, including Joanna Lumley and Alan Titchmarsh.

Sir William Worsley, the Government’s national tree champion, launched the exhibition at the Yorkshire Arboretum, which is near Castle Howard.

He was joined by Action Oak project officer Sarah Jeffery, Yorkshire Arboretum director Dr John Grimshaw, Yorkshire Arboretum chairman of trustees Professor Alastair Fitter, and life members, friends and trustees of Yorkshire Arboretum, who were invited to view the exhibition.

Sir William said: “The stunning images in this exhibition demonstrate why oaks are so vital to us, and what we stand to lose if they are not properly cared for.”

A “Celebrating Our Oaks” photobook will also be available to buy as part of the exhibition, reproducing the images on display with a foreword by Dame Judi Dench.

Yorkshire Arboretum director Dr Grimshaw said: “We’re delighted to host Celebrating Our Oaks, which will be located near some of our own finest oaks, planted in the mid-1700s.

“The stunning images demonstrate what we stand to lose if our oaks are not looked after properly.”

Celebrating Our Oaks is on display until May 7, when it will make its way to Northern Ireland and then Edinburgh.

For more information, go to yorkshirearboretum.org