16 April 2018
Which is your favourite tree for parks? Derby Arboretum - one of the world's oldest public parks - share their top picks. Tell us yours on twitter @greenflagawdint
‘There are pros and cons for most trees in the urban environment, but in particular we try and consider the local wildlife benefits first, as our open spaces are sometimes the only potential large habitats left within cities.’ - Mick McNaught, Community Parks Officer at Derby Arboretum.
We asked Mick for his top ten picks for trees for parks. Tell us your favourites too @greenflagawdint
- Quercus robur (English Oak): Supports a huge variety of wildlife, majestic structure, iconic landscape tree.
- Tilia petiolaris (Weeping Silver Lime): Wonderful winter structure, butter-yellow autumn foliage.
- Fagus sylvatica (Common Beech): Silvery bark, contrast of fresh green spring foliage and copper autumn foliage, interesting buttressed roots.
- Liquidambar styraciflua (American Sweetgum): Stunning autumn colour, delicate star shaped leaves.
- Davidia involucrata (Handkerchief tree): Cream white bracts are intriguing and worth the 20 year wait, bright green foliage.
- Fraxinus angustifolia ‘Raywood’ (Raywood Ash): Wonderful claret coloured autumn foliage, lovely shape. (Not currently recommended for new planting due to ash dieback.)
- Prunus serrula (Tibetan Cherry): Fantastic spring blossom, blood-red attractive bark.
- Acer cappadochicum (Caucasian Maple): Wonderful golden autumn foliage, strongly branching dense crown.
- Betula ermanii (Ermans Birch): Superb graceful branch structure, attractive bark and yellow Autumn foliage.
- London Plane (Platanus x hispanica): Very tough and resilient, wonderful bark and structure, a major feature of many wonderful city parks.
Do you agree with Mick's list? Which would you add or which trees define your park? Let us know @greenflagawdint
