Great Trees of London

Example of a Great Tree of London plaque, this one is for the South Woodford copper beech

Great Trees of London is a list created by Trees for Cities after the Great Storm of 1987, when the general public were asked to suggest suitable trees. Forty-one were chosen, with a further 20 added in 2008. ^{[1] [2]} In 2010, Time Out Guides Limited published a book, The Great Trees of London, listing all 61 trees.

List of the trees

Original 41

Name	Image	Location	Borough	Species	Notes
The Dorchester Plane		Dorchester Hotel, Mayfair 51°30′25″N0°09′08″W / 51.506828°N 0.152099°W / 51.506828; -0.152099	Westminster	London plane	Planted in the early 1930s. [3] : 20
The Charlton House Mulberry		Charlton House 51°28′52″N0°02′11″E / 51.481198°N 0.036359°E / 51.481198; 0.036359	Greenwich	Black mulberry	Planted at the beginning of the 1600s, possibly the oldest in the United Kingdom. [3] : 172  [4]
The Fulham Palace Oak		Fulham Palace 51°28′10″N0°12′53″W / 51.469566°N 0.214707°W / 51.469566; -0.214707	Hammersmith and Fulham	Holm oak	Oldest holm oak in London, [5] [6] [7] and perhaps the United Kingdom. Possibly dating from 1495, when the palace was built. [3] : 47  [8]
The Bexley Charter Oak		Danson Park 51°27′18″N0°07′05″E / 51.454900°N 0.118025°E / 51.454900; 0.118025	Bexley	Pedunculate oak	Well over 200 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 176  In 1937 the Bexley borough charter was signed underneath this tree. It now appears in the coat of arms of the London Borough of Bexley. [7]
The Totteridge Yew		St. Andrew's Church, Totteridge 51°37′57″N0°12′02″W / 51.632381°N 0.200558°W / 51.632381; -0.200558	Barnet	Yew	Between 1000 and 2000 years old (as of 2010), London's oldest tree. [8] [9] [3] : 130
The Carshalton Plane		Sutton Ecology Centre Grounds, Carshalton 51°21′55″N0°09′56″W / 51.365301°N 0.165514°W / 51.365301; -0.165514	Sutton	London plane	About 200 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 192  [10]
The Lewisham Dutch Elm		Ladywell Fields 51°27′02″N0°01′28″W / 51.450645°N 0.024501°W / 51.450645; -0.024501	Lewisham	European white elm [11]	A plaque in the park incorrectly identifies it [8] as a Flanders elm. [12]
The Riverside Plane		Richmond 51°27′23″N0°18′17″W / 51.456465°N 0.304728°W / 51.456465; -0.304728	Richmond upon Thames	London plane	At over 40 metres in height, it is one of the tallest London planes in the UK. [8] [13]
The Aperfield Cedar		Aperfield Road, Biggin Hill 51°18′41″N0°02′28″E / 51.311487°N 0.041172°E / 51.311487; 0.041172	Bromley	Cedar of Lebanon	[13]
The Morden Cemetery Horse Chestnut		Morden Cemetery, Motspur Park 51°23′30″N0°13′45″W / 51.391791°N 0.229083°W / 51.391791; -0.229083	Merton	Horse chestnut	This "tree" is actually two trees, about 100 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 180  [13]
The Wood Street Horse Chestnut		Wood Street, Walthamstow 51°35′21″N0°00′16″W / 51.589258°N 0.004453°W / 51.589258; -0.004453	Waltham Forest	Horse chestnut	Estimated to be 175 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 98
The Ravenscourt Park Tree of Heaven		Ravenscourt Park 51°29′47″N0°14′14″W / 51.496330°N 0.237089°W / 51.496330; -0.237089	Hammersmith and Fulham	Tree of heaven	One of the largest trees of heaven in Britain. [3] : 54
The Ashcombe Sweet Chestnut		Ashcombe Road, Carshalton 51°21′36″N0°09′44″W / 51.359978°N 0.162281°W / 51.359978; -0.162281	Sutton	Sweet chestnut
The Black Horse Pollard Chestnut		East Sheen 51°27′41″N0°17′20″W / 51.461381°N 0.288973°W / 51.461381; -0.288973	Richmond upon Thames	Horse chestnut
The Maids of Honour Stone Pine		Richmond Green 51°27′41″N0°18′31″W / 51.461379°N 0.308673°W / 51.461379; -0.308673	Richmond upon Thames	Stone pine
The Wembley Elm		Wembley 51°33′12″N0°17′08″W / 51.553292°N 0.285526°W / 51.553292; -0.285526	Brent	European white elm	Over 100 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 138
The Battersea Park Hybrid Strawberry Tree		Battersea Park 51°28′42″N0°09′21″W / 51.478312°N 0.155937°W / 51.478312; -0.155937	Wandsworth	Hybrid strawberry tree	Dating from the 1850s. [3] : 148  It lost a major limb, which was hovering over the footpath, in a big storm in February 2022, and the next bough up (still seen in the picture) in September 2023.
The Dulwich Park Oak		Dulwich Park 51°26′39″N0°04′52″W / 51.444121°N 0.081079°W / 51.444121; -0.081079	Southwark	Turkey oak
The Greenwich Spanish Sweet Chestnut		Flower Garden, Greenwich Park 51°28′36″N0°00′26″E / 51.476729°N 0.007199°E / 51.476729; 0.007199	Greenwich	Sweet chestnut	Dating from 1660. [8]
The Greenwich Park Shagbark Hickory		Flower Garden, Greenwich Park 51°28′32″N0°00′19″E / 51.475428°N 0.005180°E / 51.475428; 0.005180	Greenwich	Shagbark hickory	Largest shagbark hickory in the United Kingdom. [3] : 169
The Marble Hill Black Walnut		Marble Hill Park, Richmond 51°26′55″N0°18′39″W / 51.448576°N 0.310797°W / 51.448576; -0.310797	Richmond upon Thames	Black walnut
The Roehampton Lucombe Oak		Alton Estate, Roehampton 51°27′05″N0°14′49″W / 51.451337°N 0.246961°W / 51.451337; -0.246961	Wandsworth	Lucombe oak
The North Circular Cork Oak		Hall Lane, Chingford 51°36′43″N0°01′53″W / 51.612050°N 0.031423°W / 51.612050; -0.031423	Waltham Forest	Cork oak	Around 100 years old (as of 2010), [3] : 103  although a plaque next to the tree says that it was planted as a sapling by Len Harding in 1959.
The South Woodford Copper Beech		St Mary's Church, South Woodford 51°35′53″N0°01′14″E / 51.598157°N 0.020455°E / 51.598157; 0.020455	Redbridge	Copper beech
The George Green Sweet Chestnut		George Green, Wanstead 51°34′29″N0°01′41″E / 51.574819°N 0.028049°E / 51.574819; 0.028049	Redbridge	Sweet chestnut	Probably planted in the early 1700s. [3] : 112
The Fairlop Oak		Fulwell Cross roundabout, Ilford 51°35′37″N0°05′07″E / 51.593694°N 0.085271°E / 51.593694; 0.085271	Redbridge	Pedunculate oak	Planted in 1951 in remembrance of its historical predecessor, which lived for around 500 years until 1820, in nearby Hainault Forest. [3] : 120
The Bromley Oak		Outside the Glades shopping centre, Bromley 51°24′12″N0°01′07″E / 51.403414°N 0.018598°E / 51.403414; 0.018598	Bromley	Pedunculate oak	About 400 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 196
The Downe Yew		St Mary's Church, Downe 51°20′09″N0°03′16″E / 51.335768°N 0.054415°E / 51.335768; 0.054415	Bromley	Yew
The Barn Elms Plane, 'Barney'		Barn Elms, Barnes 51°28′30″N0°14′01″W / 51.474994°N 0.233639°W / 51.474994; -0.233639	Richmond upon Thames	London plane	London's oldest plane tree, planted around 1680. [8] [14] [15] Visible from outside an enclosure. [3] : 59
The Friday Hill Plane		Friday Hill House, Chingford 51°37′25″N0°00′24″E / 51.623621°N 0.006695°E / 51.623621; 0.006695	Waltham Forest	London Plane	Now on private grounds, but visible from above the boundary wall on Simmons Lane. The tree is probably dating from the building of the house (1839). [3] : 104
The Valence Park Oak		Valence Park, Becontree 51°33′29″N0°08′06″E / 51.558010°N 0.134955°E / 51.558010; 0.134955	Barking & Dagenham	Holm oak	As of October 2022, the pond enclosure is closed to the public for health and safety reasons, but the tree can be visited up close from Valence House grounds.
The West Wickham Oak		Southcroft Avenue, West Wickham 51°22′22″N0°00′53″W / 51.372793°N 0.014598°W / 51.372793; -0.014598	Bromley	Pedunculate oak	The tree is in a private garden, but largely visible from surrounding public spaces. It is around 800 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 202
The Addington Palace Cedar		Addington Palace 51°21′26″N0°02′25″W / 51.357289°N 0.040391°W / 51.357289; -0.040391	Croydon	Cedar of Lebanon	Access by arrangement. Planted in the 1770s. [3] : 206
The Kenley House Oak		Kenley 51°18′50″N0°05′40″W / 51.314023°N 0.094367°W / 51.314023; -0.094367 (approximate)	Croydon	Pedunculate oak	On private land, hidden from view. [3] : 215
The St James's Indian Bean Tree		St James' Church, Piccadilly 51°30′32″N0°08′13″W / 51.508750°N 0.137007°W / 51.508750; -0.137007	Westminster	Indian bean tree	Tree removed in April 2010. [16] Nativity figures have been carved from its wood, and are used by the church every Christmas. [17]
The Charlton House Nettle Tree		Charlton House 51°28′50″N0°02′14″E / 51.480620°N 0.037140°E / 51.480620; 0.037140 (approximate)	Greenwich	Hackberry	Tree removed April 2002. [3] : 215
The York House Cut Leaf Beech		York House, Twickenham 51°26′48″N0°19′22″W / 51.446794°N 0.322711°W / 51.446794; -0.322711	Richmond upon Thames	'Asplenifolia' Beech	Tree removed winter 2020/21. [18]
The Asgill House Copper Beech		Asgill House, Richmond 51°27′37″N0°18′43″W / 51.460246°N 0.311855°W / 51.460246; -0.311855	Richmond upon Thames	Copper beech	Died winter 2013/14. [19]
The Crane Park Crack Willow		Crane Park 51°26′34″N0°21′30″W / 51.442665°N 0.358306°W / 51.442665; -0.358306	Hounslow	Crack willow	Fallen over [3] : 215  circa 2010.
The Kingston Weeping Silver Lime		Thames river path, Kingston 51°24′00″N0°18′32″W / 51.400003°N 0.308936°W / 51.400003; -0.308936	Kingston upon Thames	Silver lime 'Petiolaris'	Tree removed [3] : 214  circa 2008.
The Barnsbury Beech		Barnsbury Park, Barnsbury 51°32′34″N0°06′36″W / 51.542847°N 0.110069°W / 51.542847; -0.110069	Islington	Beech	Replaced 2005. [3] : 214

Limited access   Deceased

20 added in 2008

Name	Image	Location	Borough	Species	Notes
The Hendon Japanese Maple		Hendon Park, near the tennis courts 51°34′56″N0°13′24″W / 51.582229°N 0.223459°W / 51.582229; -0.223459	Barnet	Japanese maple, Acer palmatum 'Heptalobum' [3] : 134	Planted in the early 1900s. [3] : 134
The Brunswick Plane		Brunswick Square Gardens 51°31′27″N0°07′19″W / 51.524226°N 0.121852°W / 51.524226; -0.121852	Camden	London plane
The Cheapside Plane		Cheapside, City of London 51°30′52″N0°05′41″W / 51.514431°N 0.094798°W / 51.514431; -0.094798	City of London	London plane	At over 250 years of age, "possibly the oldest tree in The Square Mile". [3] : 37
The Forty Hall Cedar of Lebanon		Forty Hall, Enfield 51°40′10″N0°04′04″W / 51.669391°N 0.067687°W / 51.669391; -0.067687	Enfield	Cedar of Lebanon	Planted around the turn of the 18th century. [3] : 141  Severely damaged 11th August 2024. [20]
The Ravenscourt Plane		Ravenscourt Park 51°29′48″N0°14′19″W / 51.496698°N 0.238686°W / 51.496698; -0.238686	Hammersmith and Fulham	London plane	An example of the ‘Baobab’ cultivar of London plane [8]
The Osterley Park Cork Oak		Osterley Park 51°29′19″N0°21′05″W / 51.488575°N 0.351411°W / 51.488575; -0.351411 ,	Hounslow	Cork oak	Planted 1855. [21] [3] : 90
The Amwell Fig		Amwell Street, Pentonville 51°31′42″N0°06′36″W / 51.528204°N 0.110047°W / 51.528204; -0.110047	Islington	Fig	This "tree" is actually three trees, [3] : 126  likely in place since 1827. [8] [22]
The Brockwell Oak		Brockwell Park 51°26′53″N0°06′22″W / 51.448108°N 0.106166°W / 51.448108; -0.106166	Lambeth	Pedunculate oak	Between 500 and 700 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 155  [8]
The Tate Plane		Outside Tate Library, Brixton 51°27′40″N0°06′55″W / 51.461049°N 0.115331°W / 51.461049; -0.115331	Lambeth	London plane
The Stratford Fig		Off High Street, Stratford 51°32′04″N0°00′29″W / 51.534361°N 0.008000°W / 51.534361; -0.008000	Newham	Fig
The Valentines Park Maple		Valentines Park, Ilford 51°34′17″N0°04′22″E / 51.571527°N 0.072690°E / 51.571527; 0.072690	Redbridge	Field maple	Planted in the 17th century. [3] : 116
The Richmond Royal Oak		Richmond Park 51°26′41″N0°17′01″W / 51.444646°N 0.283504°W / 51.444646; -0.283504	Richmond upon Thames	Pedunculate oak	Around 750 years old (as of 2020). [8] [23]
The Carshalton Sweet Chestnut		Carshalton Park, Carshalton 51°21′38″N0°09′47″W / 51.360458°N 0.163164°W / 51.360458; -0.163164	Sutton	Sweet chestnut	Around 400 years old (as of 2010). Survived a number of arson attacks, which account for the wooden door blocking the hollow at the bottom of the tree. [3] : 188
The Marylebone Elm		By the Garden of Rest, Marylebone High Street 51°31′19″N0°09′06″W / 51.521886°N 0.151724°W / 51.521886; -0.151724	Westminster	Huntingdon elm	Age estimated to be 150 years (as of 2010), over 100 feet (30 meters) high. [3] : 34
The Embankment Plane		North side of Horse Guards Avenue, at the junction with Victoria Embankment, SW1 51°30′17″N0°07′24″W / 51.504796°N 0.123285°W / 51.504796; -0.123285	Westminster	Oriental plane	Planted in 1870. [8]
The Berkeley Plane		Berkeley Square 51°30′34″N0°08′43″W / 51.509465°N 0.145276°W / 51.509465; -0.145276	Westminster	London plane	Planted in 1789. [8] [3] : 12
The Gower Plane		Gower Street 51°31′21″N0°07′57″W / 51.522446°N 0.132461°W / 51.522446; -0.132461	Camden	London plane
The Regent's Plane		Regent's Park, in the grounds of Regent's University London 51°31′32″N0°09′23″W / 51.525673°N 0.156342°W / 51.525673; -0.156342	Camden	London plane	Access by arrangement. Around 200 years old (as of 2010). [3] : 38
The Abbey Plane		Broad Sanctuary, Westminster Abbey 51°29′56″N0°07′44″W / 51.498972°N 0.128977°W / 51.498972; -0.128977	Westminster	London plane	Accessible from 8am to 5pm.
The Hardy Ash		Old St Pancras Churchyard 51°32′07″N0°07′47″W / 51.535142°N 0.129713°W / 51.535142; -0.129713	Camden	Ash	At just over 250 years of age, [3] : 42  the tree fell in December 2022. This is believed to have been due to fungal damage. [24]

Limited access   Deceased

See also

• List of individual trees
• List of Great British Trees

References

1. "The great trees of London". 23 September 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2018– via news.bbc.co.uk.
2. "Londoners identify 20 new historic trees - Parks & Gardens UK". www.parksandgardens.org. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
3. The Great Trees of London. Time Out Guides Ltd. 2010. ISBN   978-1-84670-154-2.
4. "Morus Londinium - The Charlton House heritage mulberry". moruslondinium.org. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
5. "Country Life visits Fulham Palace". Countrylife.co.uk. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
6. "The Fulham Palace ancient holm oak". Fulham Palace. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
7. "BBC - The great trees of London". news.bbc.co.uk. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
8. Paul Wood (2020). Great Trees of London Map. Blue Crow Media. ISBN   978-1-912018-76-5.
9. "Londonist - Visit London's oldest tree". londonist.com. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
10. "Site Details - Greenspace Information for Greater London". www.gigl.org.uk. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
11. "Tree Register of Britain and Ireland". www.treeregister.org. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
12. "The Great Trees of Lewisham". www.nationaltrust.org.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
13. "The Great Trees of London". Foursquare. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
14. "London's best trees". Evening Standard. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
15. "London's oldest plane tree". aranya.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2018.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
16. "St. James Conservation Trust Newsletter" (PDF). stjamestrust.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
17. Winkett, Lucy (2 February 2019). "Why I'm only packing up my Nativity figures today". The Times . Retrieved 14 September 2023.
18. "Photo of notice of tree removal from Richmond Council". twitter.com. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
19. "The Tree Company News arboriculturalists". thetreecompany.co.uk. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
20. "Decay blamed for damage to Forty Hall's famous 'Cedar of Lebanon' tree", Enfield Dispatch, 12 August 2024
21. Oliver Smith (22 October 2019), "The Great Trees of London – the city's finest leafy landmarks", Daily Telegraph
22. "Common fig in Amwell Street, EC1 in Islington, England, United Kingdom". monumentaltrees.com. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
23. "The Royal Oak, Richmond Park". ancienttreeforum.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
24. "The Hardy Tree Of St Pancras Has Fallen". Londonist. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.

External links

Media related to Great Trees of London at Wikimedia Commons