Long Eaton - West Park
w/e 09 October 2016
All of this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490

Part 02 - Includes Trees 8 to 13 On the extract above taken from an information board in the park, the pink line shows the route we followed in this second part of the series and the numbers in red, the approximate locations of trees numbered 8 to 13 in Erewash Borough Council's Tree Trail leaflet. We resumed our walk in the park at a junction in the paths and continued straight ahead (after passing the fenced trees that is) to follow the path by the Golden Brook.

To the left of the path is tree number eight which the leaflet records as a False Acacia. Rather confusingly the identification post states that this is a Locust Tree although further investigation revealed False Acacia and Black Locust are alternative names for the same species. Whatever you call it, in autumn it bears brown seed pods which split to release kidney shaped beans. These are preceded in the summer months by sweet scented pea like flowers loved by insects for the nectar they produce. Other features of the tree are long spines on the branches and deep vertical fissures on the bark of old trees.

We continued along the path by the Golden Brook and noticed that some trees were already showing their autumn colours. The white line on the path is intended to segregate pedestrians on the right from a cycle route on the left. Parts of the park are likely to becoming waterlogged in bad weather but when it's dry, many people prefer to walk on the grass and leave the path clear for the bikes.

A feature in West Park and to the right of the Golden Brook path is the sundial and planet garden. According to an information board, it was initiated by the Friends of West Park and is intended to be a fun garden bringing more colour into the park. The nine flowerbeds are colour themed and spiral outwards from the sundial with "hotter" coloured plants to represent the planets closer to the sundial and darker coloured flowers, grasses and shrubs used for those further away. The board also gives information on how to tell the time with the sundial by using the black mosaic in the winter and the yellow mosaic during the summer months.

We passed the next junction in the paths and walked a little way beyond the Fishpond Shelter. Looking back the small tree next to the shelter (number 9) is a Deodar Cedar. Its native habitat is the Western Himalayas where it is also known as the "Tree of God" or the "Sacred Indian Fir". Tree number 10, a Black Walnut, is conspicuous by its absence although an identification post remains in situ.

Nearby though is another identification post by a Common Hornbeam although this is not featured on the Tree Trail leaflet. The post records that the tree was planted to mark the fifth birthday of Long Eaton and District U3A (i.e. University of the Third Age) in 2012. The identification post for the missing tree seen here on the right also has a similar commemorative plaque and although the cynic in me suspects vandalism, the demise of the tree could of course be due to natural causes. The leaflet I am following was printed some time ago - it's not dated - but natural evolution will obviously lead to the disappearance of some trees.

Turning back to pass in front of the Fishpool Shelter again, we then turned left at the path junction. The picnic tables in the distance were far more appealing then the keep fit equipment but we walked down the path to the trees numbered 11, 12 and 13.

It was tree 12 that we encountered first and this was a Grey Poplar. Apparently grey poplars are crosses between white and black poplars which would seem to make sense. They can grow to heights of 30 metres and dry wood from the trees is very strong being used for pallets and packing cases.

Tree 11 stands across the path from the Grey Poplar and is a Whitebeam. Seen here looking back towards the Fishpool Shelter, the Whitebeam is noted for having red berries in autumn and golden leaves which are just beginning to show. It is native to the UK and has a long history being named by Anglo-Saxons and used by them as a boundary marker.

The final tree in this part should have been a Handkerchief Tree but once again the tree has disappeared from the landscape and only a bare patch of ground in the lush grass that stretches away to a football pitch and an identification post betray its original location. When we return to the park for Part 03 we'll pick up the route from here and continue our walk of discovery searching out more exhibits along the Tree Trail. West Park Index Forward to Part 03

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