Great Trees of London
London is a city full of trees. The plane trees of its garden squares, the monkey puzzle trees of suburban villas, the great hornbeams of Epping Forest – they’re all part of the city’s character.
Some of these trees are just bit part players in the overall theatre of the city. But others play major roles – you can’t miss them.
Some because of their rarity. There’s an Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa bignoniodes)
in the churchyard of St James’s, Piccadilly, and a Hybrid Strawberry Tree (arbutus x andrachnoides) in Battersea Park.
Others, like the Yew in Totteridge churchyard, qualify by age. This tree is certainly over 500 years old, and has grown in girth and character like an arboreal version of Shakespeare’s Falstaff.
And others, like the plane tree in front of the Dorchester Hotel, are great simply because of their beauty and grace.
The Great Trees of London competition is now looking for another batch of great trees to recognise. Entries will be open till September 1, 2008 - so if you have a favourite tree, make sure you plead its case convincingly!
Photo credit – Jose Luis Sanchez Mesa on flickr
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