FARNHAM WALKING FESTIVAL 21 – 28 MAY 2017
FARNHAM TREE TRAIL at 10.00 am ON SUNDAY 28 MAY
This 2 hour and just over 2 mile walk will identify and describe some 40 native and exotic trees in and around the central Conservation Area of Farnham, starting and finishing in Gostrey Meadow. It is all level walking on pavements but crossing of some busy main roads. It will be suitable for all ages and abilities including those with limited mobility and wheelchairs*. Children under 12 must be supervised. Please dress to suit the weather forecast and with comfortable walking shoes. A list and brief description of all the main trees will be provided. A radio communication system will be available. Maximum of 20 participants. Dogs welcome so long as they do not water the trees!
*I would like thank Jennifer Cannon for testing the walk.
ITINERARY AND LIST OF MAIN TREES
Gostrey Meadow (meet at the bandstand)
1. Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba). Introduced from China in 1754, this large tree lives to over 3000 years in its native country. A very ancient species going back 150 million years and even pre-dating the dinosaurs. Leaves have therapeutic and some medicinal qualities. Golden autumn leaf colours.
2. Lombardy poplar (Populus nigra ‘Italica’).Introduced from N. Italy in 1758. A fast-growing fastigiate (upright) tree but like many poplars it is relatively short lived. An adjacent tree was felled last year due to basal decay. There is a golden form discovered at Normandy, Guildford.
3. Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glytostroboides). Although known by fossil remains, live specimens were not found in the Sichuan region of China until the 1940’s. First seen in England in 1948 and now planted widely as one of the few deciduous conifers. Good autumn colour.
4. Golden weeping willow (Salix x sepulcralis ‘Chrysocoma’). A hybrid tree introduced from France in the early 19C. Tolerates wet conditions and looks well by water. A comparatively short-lived tree and surrounding trees were recently felled on safety grounds.
5. Alder (Alnus glutinosa). A native tree which will grow in very wet conditions, as seen along the raised wooden walkway at the southern end of Frensham Little Pond. The seed case is a little like a conifer cone. Timber was used for clog-making up north.
6. English oak (Quercus robur). One of two native oaks and there are 500-year-old specimens in Farnham Park and another ancient tree on Tilford Green. It is and was a very important timber tree for building construction, ship-building and furniture. A true symbol of Great Britain and features on the Coat of Arms of Surrey County Council, Waverley BC and Farnham TC as well as The National Trust and the Woodland Trust. We will see three other species of oak today.
7. Ash (Fraxinus excelsior). A large native tree with readily identifiable black buds and large pinnate (divided) leaves. An important timber tree that was used for aeroplane construction during the two world wars, snooker cues and the best fire wood. Liable to Chalara fungal disease.
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8. Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata). A small to medium-sized tree introduced from China and Taiwan in 1763. Lovely pinky orange opening leaves in spring, yellow flowers in summer followed by unusual bladder-like seed pods.
9. Yew (Taxus baccata). A very long-lived native tree with some said to be up to 5000 years old. The timber is used for furniture, treen and Robin Hood’s longbow. Many parts of the tree are poisonous. Very good for hedging, topiary and will tolerate hard pruning. There’s an ancient specimen at Waverley Abbey which could pre-date the twelfth century Abbey.
Across Longbridge
10. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). From Greece and Albania but long established in this country with great large white candle like leaves in late spring. Much loved by children for its conkers. Suffering from disease and insect pests in recent years.
11. Fastigiate or Cypress oak (Quercus Fastigiate Group). A more upright cultivar with good specimens at Sainsbury’s at Water Lane where they look like a Lombardy poplar, but the little acorns confirm oak.
St Andrews Church
12. Irish Yew (Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’). An upright cultivar discovered in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland in 1780 by George Willis. Looks a little sombre but suited to church yard planting. There is a small golden form in a front garden in Lodge Hill Road.
Library Gardens
13. Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani). Native of NW Asia and Syria, introduced in 1645 and forming a very large impressive tree. This specimen is likely to be over 200 years old and has been braced to prevent breakage in wind and heavy snow. Good specimens at Farnham Castle and park and at Moor Park House.
14. Evergreen or Holm oak (Quercus ilex). From the Mediterranean region but cultivated in this country since the 16C. Used as a coastal, shelter-belt tree in the south and west as wind and salt tolerant, but not so good in the north. Very hard wood. Leaves are a little like holly but again the little acorns confirm it is an oak.
Museum of Farnham gardens
15. Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos). From N. America and has been in this country for over 300 years. Fern-like leaves turn golden in the autumn. Maturing specimens have thorns on the trunk. There is a smaller golden cultivar - G.t. ‘Sunburst’
16. Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara). From W. Himalaya and introduced in 1831. Note the drooping leading shoots. There is a golden form in a front garden at the top of Castle Street. A lovely tree.
Across West Street (footpath between Pottersgate and The Hart)
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17. Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) at Tunsgate and a fastigiate tulip tree opposite, (L.t. ‘Fastigiatum’) from the USA. Unique shaped leaves and tulip-like flowers in summer. There is a large specimen on Farnborough Road near Optiplan kitchen showrooms.
The Hart and Hart Car Park
18. London Plane (Platanus x hispanica). A hybrid tree introduced from Spain in 1663. First planted in London and well suited to urban conditions and air pollution. Tolerates pollarding as we shall see from the Castle Street planes shortly. Maple-like leaves and lovely peeling bark.
19. Raywood or claret ash (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa ‘Raywood’). A cultivar from USA. Spectacular claret-coloured autumn tints. There are good specimens at the Water Lane Sainsbury’s.
20. Himalayan birch (Betula utilis var. jacquemontii). From the Himalayas and introduced in 1890. Grows to a tall majestic tree with bright white peeling bark.
Castle Street - note the three London Planes planted in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. These three trees are therefore around 125 years old, assuming they were about five years old at planting. They have been pollarded (crown reduced) in the past.
Borelli’s Yard
21. Indian bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides). Native to USA and introduced in 1726. Large white and purple-based summer flowers, followed by bean-like pods up to 12 inches long and leaves the size of footballs. A good ‘shade tree’ in hot and sunny regions with its spreading branches. There is a golden form C. b. ‘Aurea’.
22. Cockspur thorn (Crateagus crus-galli). Native of N. USA, note the 2 inch thorns giving it its common name. Attractive small tree with spring flowers and good autumn colour.
Central Car Park
23. Turkish hazel (Corulus colurna). SE Europe and W. Asia. Develops attractive corky bark and hairy seed cases. Upright growth makes it suitable for street and car-park planting as we see here.
24. Field maple (Acer campestre) native. Note the angle of the seed wings, much wider than other common maples. A familiar medium-sized hedgerow tree which is often planted on motorways and trunk roads. Lovely golden autumn leaf colour.
25. Box elder (Acer negundo). From North America and Mexico, unusual for a maple it has pinnate leaves (divided into 3,5 or 7 leaflets). Easily recognised as a maple by its pairs of winged seeds. There is a good tree with showy pink, tassel like, flowers in spring which can be seen at the top of the Upper Hart car park - A. n. subsp. californicum
Bush Hotel car park
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26. Eucalyptus or gum tree (Eucalyptus species). One of many large fast-growing species of gum trees from Australia. Some species can grow to well over 100m and are contenders for the tallest trees in the world. Pleasant smelling crushed leaves used for salves, balms and decongestants. There are smaller species and some with lovely peeling bark as seen in The Ridgway.
United Reform Church, South Street
27. Silver Wattle (Acacia dealbata). This medium-sized tree is best planted in a sheltered position as you see here because it is not completely hardy, coming as it does from Australia and Tasmania. Feathery silver foliage and ‘Golden Mimosa’ flowers in early spring.
28. Serbian spruce (Picea omorica) . Forms a tall slender tree of some beauty and there are 20m tall specimens at the Alice Holt Arboretum. A native of the former Yugoslavia (now Bosnia Herzogovina), where it was discovered and introduced into the UK in the late 19C. Grows well on chalky soils and young specimens make a good Christmas trees if you have limited space.
Victoria Garden
29. Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) native, but there are many cultivars. Also called the mountain ash as it grows to high altitudes in Britain. Late spring white flowers and the red autumn fruits are a good source of food for birds.
30. Whitebeam (Sorbus aria) native, note the white undersides of the leaves. It likes chalk soils and can be seen along the North Downs Way. There are Many cultivars, this one is S.a. ‘Lutescens’
Rear of Council Offices and Haren Gardens
31. Purple Dawyck beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck Purple’). The original green upright cultivar is from Dawyck Botanic Gardens in SW Scotland. A good stately tree, but this one is a little hidden away.
32. Norway maple (Acer platanoides). From Europe but established in this country for centuries. Many cultivars are available, including red, yellow, variegated or cut-leaved and upright forms.
33. Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). Europe and again established in this country for centuries. Many cultivars and the wood is used for furniture and treen. (Note angle of the seed wings of both these species of maple compared with field maple No.24)
Borelli Walk
34. Red oak (Quercus rubra). North America, great bright red autumn colour. Good specimens in Beavers Road.
35. Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’). The green-leaved original was introduced from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and Algeria in the mid 19C. This blue form is the most frequently planted and there are many good specimens in and around Farnham.
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36. Persian ironwood (Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’). The true species is from Persia (Iran). Great autumn colour. This cultivar is more upright in habit.
37. Sweet gum (Liquidambar styracifera). Introduced from North America in the 17C and normally has wonderful autumn colour. Maple-like leaves but arranged alternately on the stem, compared with maples, where the leaves are in opposite pairs.
38. White willow (Salix alba) A large native tree normally seen by rivers and other waterways. The long narrow leaves have silvery undersides best seen in the breeze. Like most willows this tree is comparatively short-lived.
Gostrey Meadow
39. Silver weeping, or willow-leaved pear (Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’). Introduced from the Caucasus in the late 18C. A small tree that tolerates clipping or topiary. Produces small inedible pears in the late summer.
40. Pocket handkerchief tree, dove or ghost tree (Davidia involucrata) The white flowers or bracts appear in late spring and have a ghostlike appearance. Round hanging fruit in the autumn. Introduced from China in 1904 after much searching by plant hunters. There is a great specimen on Hale Road near the vets.