TREES IN LAKE MEADOWS 

Silver Birch (Betula pendula)                                                  Map Ref 11 

Native to Britain and exceptionally hardy. It is a common woodland tree, one of the first to colonise bore ground. It can grow up to 25m and can have a spread of 10m. It displays a delicacy and is easily recognised by its shape as well as the silvery white bark on its trunk. In the spring small green female catkins form together with the purple pendular male catkins; the fruiting catkins then stay on the tree until winter when they break up scattering their winged seeds. Twigs are cut in winter to make besom brooms and forest fire beaters; historically they were also used to “birch” delinquents apparently to drive out evil spirits. Several examples can be found in the woodland area by the tennis courts and a large specimen can be found near the eastern boundary of the Park. 

Leyland Cypress (X Cupressocyparis leylandii)                     Map Ref 12 

Only developed at the end of the nineteenth century it is a common garden tree. It is a fast growing tree, 1.25m per year up to a height of 30m. It is totally unsuitable for small gardens unless pruned hard. The samples marked guve an indication of the size to which they can grow.