In the election of the most impressive protected spruce in Lithuania, the witches' spruce growing in the Rambyna regional park defeated the competitors. Nature lovers were invited to take part in these elections by the State Service of Protected Areas under the Ministry of the Environment, which proposed six applicants, distinguished by their shape, branching, height and thickness.
Over a thousand people participated in the vote. Witch fir received more than half of all votes. The second place went to Barklainiai Manor Egle, the third to Egle Boba.
The witch fir was recognized as this year's most impressive protected fir for a reason. Two years ago, it was chosen as the most beautiful tree in Lithuania and claimed the title of the most beautiful tree in Europe.
According to the species, it is the so-called common spruce. It has been growing for almost 200 years in the Vilkyškii geomorphological reserve near the town of Vilkyskii. At a height of about 1 meter, the Witch Spruce branches into seventeen trunks, its height is about 34 meters, and the girth of the trunk at the branching is about 5 meters.
Due to the uniqueness of the spruce, several legends are told about it. According to one of them, the young people of the Skalvii tribe used to gather on the hill. In the nearby swamp, there used to be a habitat of fairies. They used to slow down here, stick brooms and go to lure young people. A beautiful witch fell in love with a charming young man and forgot to return in time. When he was about to fly, the broom was already green. Since then, the spruce has been called the Witch's Spruce. Sometimes it is also called the Witch's Broom. This name was given to it by the scientist Eugenija Šimkūnaitė due to the similarity of its shape to a broom.
