Image shows L to R Tim Hills TCV, Cllr Warren Davies, Volunteers and Dr Owen Johnson
20 rare trees planted at Alexandra Park
Twenty rare trees have been planted in Alexandra Park in Hastings to ensure that the park continues to hold the most diverse and interesting tree collection of any public park in England.
With the help of Hastings born, Dr Owen Johnson, Britain’s leading authority on rare trees and volunteer leader for the Biodiversity Action Team, co-ordinated by The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), Hastings Borough Council have sourced and planted this new collection of rare trees.
The council’s lead member for the environment, Cllr Warren Davies explained: “Alexandra Park, laid out by Robert Marnock in 1878 – 1882, has an exceptionally varied tree collection with diverse foliage, blossom or fruit which adds interest all year round.
“The new trees which Owen and other volunteers have planted this season have been grown from seeds collected in the remote mountains of North Vietnam by intrepid plant-hunters Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones. Some of these tree species have never been grown in Britain before and a few are assessed as critically endangered in the wild.
“By growing them in Hastings, we are continuing to add to the park’s diverse tree collection, while contributing to nature conservation on a global scale and, part of the money from purchasing the trees returns to the Vietnamese to help protect rare species in the wild.”
Tim Hills Sussex Team Leader for TCV added:
“TCV are delighted to be able to help local people take part in this important conservation work in their local greenspace. As well as tree planting, we work with Hastings Borough Council helping look after a number of green spaces around the town and if people wish to join in and help us we are most grateful of the assistance. Please visit our website for details of volunteering opportunities.”
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11 Comments
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Dear Jane, I’ve managed to locate the spreadsheet and will send it via your email. Hope it’s interesting reading. Appreciation to Dr Owen Johnson, who provided the list. Warm wishes, Zelly
Comment by Zelly Restorick — Tuesday, Feb 7, 2017 @ 16:33
Dear Bennet, I’ll send you the spreadsheet via your email address. Thanks for writing to us and hope you’ll find the information interesting. It was provided by our local (national and international) tree expert, Dr Owen Johnson. Warm wishes, Zelly.
Comment by Zelly Restorick — Tuesday, Feb 7, 2017 @ 16:31
Dear Zelly, Having heard about the wonderful collection of trees in the Park via Dr Judy Clark please can you send me a list of the trees.
Many thanks, Bennet
Comment by Bennet Smith — Tuesday, Feb 7, 2017 @ 14:46
Would also love a copy of the spreadsheet of the trees. Many thanks
Comment by Jane Reas — Friday, Jan 6, 2017 @ 09:09
Is there a list or map of the trees in the park ? Obviously not all ! But large & unusual ones . & would like to know when next tree walk is . Dank u .
Charles Koning.
Comment by charles Koning — Friday, Aug 12, 2016 @ 16:40
Advisable to slap a Tree Preservation Order on these trees. Otherwise who knows what could happen. ’nuff said.
Comment by Lucy Locket — Friday, Mar 11, 2016 @ 13:37
Hello Eve,
I wrote on someone else’s behalf to tree expert, Dr Owen Johnson, who kindly sent me a spreadsheet of the names of the trees. I will send this to you in a separate email. Dr Johnson said to me re the spreadsheet: “I’m afraid it won’t mean much to the non-initiated as most of the trees are too rare to have a familiar name at all, but they will all look pretty as they begin to mature.” Warm wishes, Zelly
Comment by Zelly Restorick — Thursday, Mar 10, 2016 @ 08:42
It is such a shame that the names of the species were not included in the article here (and also omitted from the Observer article). Sadly all too often when plants hit the headlines their names are ignored. Please would you send me a list. Many thanks.
Comment by Eve Montgomery — Thursday, Mar 10, 2016 @ 08:30
Hello Julia, I have emailed Dr Owen Johnson and he has kindly sent me a spreadsheet of the trees, which I will send to your email address. If anyone else is interested, please leave a Comment – and I will be in touch. Warm wishes,
Zelly
Comment by Zelly Restorick — Friday, Mar 4, 2016 @ 10:02
Hello Julia,
I will find out and let you know. Thank you for writing to us.
Zelly
Comment by Zelly Restorick — Thursday, Mar 3, 2016 @ 10:57
I would love to have a list of the trees planted. Where could I find that?
Comment by Julia Hilton — Wednesday, Mar 2, 2016 @ 19:41