TREES IN LAKE MEADOWS 

Sweet Gum (liquidomber styraciflua)        Map Ref 15 

Grown in Eastern Canada and USA, introduced into Britain in 1861, frequently used as a garden tree, planted for spectacular autumn colour with its deep reddish-purple leaves. It can grow up to 25m tall with a 12m spread. As the name infers it produces a gum, which is still harvested in the US and used in the production of adhesives. Two specimens are to be found just to the east of the statue. 

Silver-leafed Maple (Acer saccharinum)   Map Ref 16 

Native to eastern N. America and introduced into the UK in 1725 from Quebec. It is a very fast growing deciduous, spreading tree (25m high and 15m spread). The leaves are made up of five deeply lobed leaves that are mid-green on the top and have a distinctive silver underside; they usually turn yellow, or occasionally red, in the autumn. In America the tree produces a sap that is rich in sugar and is used to produce maple syrup and refined sugar of a distinctive flavour. One is conveniently located in the triangle of ground in which the statue is situated.