The Tree Register News Archive 2006
Tender Trees ProjectDuring 2006 Dr Owen Johnson surveyed tree collections and gardens to identify species generally considered to be tender or half hardy, but now appear to be thriving happily. His report will be available towards the end of the year. |
Tallest Wild CherryThe tallest Wild Cherry have been measured at Belvoir Castle, Leicestershire, the ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland for one thousand years. Details on the members news page. |
Heritage Tree FallsScotland loses one of its great heritage trees at Newbattle Abbey. Report from Donald Rodger on the Members News page. Photo: Copyright Donald Rodger 2006 |
Magnolia spotting produces a new champion at the Valley Gardens WindsorTree Register member Bryan Roebuck took advantage of an exceptionally good year so far for Magnolia, visiting the RHS Gardens at Wisley and the Valley Gardens, Windsor. Thanks to his keen eye we have a new champion in the superb Valley Gardens for a relatively new species for British gardens, Magnolia cylindrica. Details on the members database. The tree was planted in 1984 from seed received by Roy Lancaster wild collected in Zhejiang Province, China via. Shanghai Botanic Garden. The Crown Estate are proposing fencing in the Valley Gardens
(currently open public access) and charging an entrance fee.
For details go to the Valley Gardens Action Group web site www.valleygardens.org.uk |
National Trust champion treesIf you are a member of the National Trust you could be looking at many champion trees this summer. 56 NT properties have at least one champion tree and many more have notable specimens. Top 10 sites to visit:
Tree Register members can check champion trees on the members
database or receive details of notable trees on specific properties
on request by email. |
Champion CedarSteven Falk, Senior Keeper of Natural History at the Warwickshire Museum, sent in this photo of a Cedar of Lebanon at Compton Verney near Wellesbourne, Warwickshire. Unmeasurable as a single stem its huge volume of multiple stems and low branches measures an impressive 10.85m just above ground level. Compton Verney is managed by The Compton Verney House Trust and is open to the public (check for opening times). |
The Great Golynos OakRead a copy of text taken from Jesse's Gleanings in Natural History, later published in The Great Golynos Oak, its fall and destiny by the Rev. E. W. L. Davies, MA 1892 on our members news page. Thanks to Jim Paterson MBE for providing the documentation confirming the size of this great Welsh tree. |
Veteran Cherry found by Ted GreenOut for a walk in Berkshire "Mr Veteran Tree" Ted Green and Jill Butler of the Woodland Trust came across what appears to be one of the largest Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) ever recorded. |
Catalpa Mystery SolvedDuring the summer of 2005 the decision was made on health and
safety grounds to remove the champion Northern Catalpa (Catalpa
speciosa) growing in Radnor Gardens, Twickenham. This provided
Tree Register member Bryan Roebuck the opportunity to investigate
its age and solve a mystery. Alan Mitchell had previously suggested the
trees unusually large girth indicated a planting date before its
recorded introduction by Sargent to Kew in 1880. However, Bryan
was able to undertake a ring count confirming it had just grown
exceptionally fast on this site near the River Thames and was
the tree planted in 1903 to commemorate the official opening
of the gardens. The new champion Catalpa speciosa is another
tree growing by a great river, 17m tall x 2.95m girth by the
River Severn in Worcester, recorded by Dr Owen Johnson during
his 2004 Urban Tree Project. |
