Ilkeston - The Trees
Of Victoria Park
w/e 18 October 2009
All this week's pictures were taken
with a Kodak DX6490
Since uploading Part 01 of this series I have resolved
the discrepancies between the numbers shown on a Council leaflet
and the information posts adjacent to the trees in the park.
See the Introduction for
more. The identification to each tree in the format (L-/P-) refers
to the leaflet number and the identification post number.
Part 03 - On the Bristol Road side (Bottom half)
In this part we will look at the remaining five notable trees
towards the lower end of Bristol Road.
Four of those five are in this cluster near the park's bowling
green just over half way down whilst the fifth is actually at
the junction with Manners Road. The white building seen through
the trees is the pavilion on the bowling green.
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The first tree of note is not the prominent conifer in this image
but the smaller tree standing in the shadows to the left. This
too is an evergreen and the species grows to a height of 30m.
It is the national tree of Pakistan where it is often used in
temples and palaces going by the name of Deodar Cedar (L11/P-).
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Although it lacks an information post and is somewhat overshadowed
by its neighbour the Deodar Cedar is easily identified by its
fan shaped needles and its distinctive barrel shaped cones on
the top of its drooping branches.
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Another relatively easy tree to identify is the Purple Leaved
Plum (L12/P13). In spring it is covered with pretty white flowers
and at harvest time produces sweet edible fruit but when in leaf
it is their colour from which it takes its name that makes it
an easily recognisable tree.
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The Acer Crimson King (L-/P14) is another colourful tree that
has dark beetroot-red leaves which turn red, brown and orange
in autumn. In spring it produces small clusters of red-tinged,
yellow flowers and as it grows to only about 7m high it is also
popular in large gardens as well as parks as an ornamental tree.
It is a fast growing tree, is pollution-tolerant and will grow
quite happily on most soils including clay.
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 Close
to the Acer is a larger tree (left) that stands adjacent to the
hedge surrounding the park's bowling green. This is a Sycamore
(L13/P15) and is the largest member of the Maple family of trees,
reaching 30m in height when fully grown. The wood of the Sycamore
is used commercially for the production of furniture, flooring
and also violins but the tree is also popular in urban parks
as it too, like the Acer, is tolerant to pollution, road salt
and windy conditions. The spring flowers of the Sycamore are
also produced in clusters but they are coloured green and provide
nectar for bees and other insects.
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The spring flowers develop into winged seeds known universally
as 'helicopters' and this particular tree in Victoria Park is
fully laden at the moment but at any time now they will be carried
away, spinning on the wind.
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 The final tree
in this section at the lower end of Bristol Road (right) could
arguably be called the first in the next section as it is right
on the junction with Manners Road. The slender tall tree which
can reach up to 45m in height in the right conditions is a Lombardy
Poplar (L-/P16). At a rate of nearly 2m per year, it is a fast
growing tree but is susceptible to a number of pests and diseases.
It has a relatively short lifespan that can often be as little
as only 15 years. Its common name of course is derived from the
Lombardy district of Italy where it originated, being brought
to the UK at the end of the 18th century.
The bare patch of ground in the foreground of the main picture
above is usually full of flowers but at the moment it has been
stripped and is awaiting its winter planting which should be
well established by the time we return next month to see the
trees on the Manners Road side of Victoria Park.
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