Trees in our parks

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Storm damage in parks

As a result of recent very high winds many trees were blown down, including some in our Bromley Town Centre parks. Three were toppled and one badly damaged in Church House Gardens. A smaller tree in Library Gardens was also blown down. Due to the hard work of the council tree team and their contractors, any obstructions have been removed. However it will take some time for foliage, where necessary, to be removed from site. In most cases these trees were blown over, despite being bare of tree leaves, due to the evergreen ivy growing on them allowing the wind to find purchase.

While bad news, it is hoped that other nearby smaller trees will eventually grow to take their place.

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Foxglove tree in flower

Foxglove tree (Paulownia tomentosa)

With the recent loss of a favourite old tree (Holm Oak) it is good to see a young tree showing itself off nearby. This is the Paulownia, also known as the Foxglove Tree due to its large mauve bell shaped flowers. These come out before the leaves, and make a lovely sight at this time of year. This particular specimen is located near the Church Road entrance to Church House Gardens. There is another much older tree elsewhere in the park, but it wonky has a few flowers on it.

The trees in Church House Gardens are well worth looking out for. So why not see what you can spot when you next visit?

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The Bromley Oak: a veteran still carrying on

Not many people take much notice of this venerable Oak Tree (Quercus rubor), now isolated on Kentish Way. As a result of building the dual carriageway, and the immediately adjacent Pavilion Sports Centre, its branches and roots were severely reduced, resulting in its rather smaller current appearance. The girth of the twin trunks however gives a clue to its long life, probably of some 300 years. As the plaque mentions it is one of the “Great Trees of London”

Originally part of the Bromley Lodge estate, in 1892 it was to be found in the garden of a large property in Elmfield Road called ‘Sundown’, occupied by a David Israel MA. Just over the wall from the garden was the historic Love Lane. The 1892 map below shows the site, with the approximate position of the Bromley Oak marked by a cross.

So the next time you walk past, please stop to look and admire it, a survivor of an older Bromley with the associated historic Love Lane.

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Royal Connections

Queens Garden off Kentish Way, as the name suggests, has royal connections. The former White Hart Field was donated for a public park to commemorate the 60th year of Queen Victoria’s reign in 1897, and officially opened in 1900. Since then the anniversaries of our present sovereign continue to be marked, this time in trees!

Planted to mark the 70th anniversary of reign of Queen Elizabeth II

Over the years Bromley council have planted a tree to mark various royal milestones. Those for 1992, 2002, 2012 and of course 2020 can be found here, along with one for the Queen and Prince Philip’s wedding anniversary in 1997. Each tree has a plaque recording the event.

Elm ‘New Horizons’ planted in 1992

There are also others commemorating other non royal events. So the next time you visit Queens Garden why not see what you can spot!

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Storm Impact on Parks

We all love our trees and how they enhance our public spaces. So it is sad when we lose any of the. Sadly several have either been brought down or badly damaged, as a result of Storm Eunice. A couple of examples are shown below.

Wild Cherry in Library Gardens
Large tree in Church House Gardens

There was also damage to a large Cedar as well as a new tree sapling, in Church House Gardens. All these trees have been reported. Some will survive, if badly damaged. Hopefully the others will be replaced in due course by new ones. However it will inevitably take many years for them to again become mature specimens.