A Glasgow teacher has been named as Glasgow’s first tree-hugging champion - and is now hoping to take part in the world championships in Finland.

Hannah Willow is a school teacher and children’s author in Glasgow. She won the Glasgow Tree Hugging Tournament, held in the Dams to Darnley Country Park on Sunday, October 6. Her tree hugging efforts beat out 14 adults and four children to take the crown.

Speaking to The Times after being crowned winner, she said: “I feel very happy. I wanted to come because I’ve always been a bit of a tree hugger, but it is so lovely to be here with lots of people who feel the same way as me. I feel so at home in the woods and trees. It is genuinely my happy place.”

Hannah, 36, will now look to the World Championships, which will be held in Finland where the competition originated in 2020.

Speaking after the event, Hannah told the Guardian: “Part of me now feels I need to step up my game for the world championships. I will have to bring out my fairy wings and my ukulele and go singing to the trees.”

Tree hugging events have sprung up throughout the world in recent years, with the World Tree Hugging Championships starting in 2020 and being held in HaliPuu forest, just over 100 miles north of the Arctic Circle.

The Glasgow event was co-created by Vicki Dale, a happiness facilitator and nature enthusiast, and Shuna Mercer, an outdoor play therapist.

Participants took part in three different disciplines. Speed Hugging where participants compete to embrace as many trees as possible and Dedicated Hugging where participants were judged on passion, connection, and commitment as they hug a tree of their choosing with the utmost dedication and sincerity. Lastly, Freestyle Hugging participants were free to express themselves through unique and imaginative hugging styles.

Hannah has now begun planning for the World Championships, with a GoFundMe page having been set up by her sister.