TREES IN LAKE MEADOWS 

Norway Maple (Acer Platanoides)         Map Ref 1

Comes from Scandinavia and was introduced to this country in 1683. Planted for coloured summer foliage and spectacular autumn colour. It flowers in early spring before the leaves form and provides useful food for bees at this time of the year. Although young trees grow quickly they often have their barks stripped by grey squirrels and consequently they would be very vulnerable in the Park. The specimens in Lake Meadows are “Crimson King” and have large lobed leaves which are deep reddish-purple and turn orange in the autumn. In mid spring they have tiny, red tinged yellow flowers. One of the trees is situated in the triangle with the statue and the one shown on the map is by the play area and has a seat round it.

Pendunculate or Common Bark (Quercus robur)     Map Ref 2

Native to this country. The word “robur” means sturdy and its strength and close grained timber made it very useful material for the construction of houses and ships. In the reign of Elizabeth I some of the first conservation laws were passed to protect this tree. With the expansion of the Navy and trade the demand for oak increased and led to major planting being carried out in the royal forests. The trees can grow to a height of 25 metres with a similar sized spread and a single tree can produce hundreds of acorns each year thus producing a large supply of food for animals. There are many examples in the Park; the tree near the swimming pool entrance has a relatively long, straight trunk  having had its side branches trimmed in its early life, whilst the one shown on the map to the north of the lake has  very large boughs close to the ground.