Trail Using the trail Refer to the map with trail markings inside this leaflet. A green plaque at each of the 12 trees along the trail will tell you the tree’s trail number, common name and botanical or Latin name. Stop at each tree and have a go at some of the activities. 1 Anna Nikiticheva 2 Wendy Caldon

The other trails There are two other trails in the park. The Local people entered an art competition in 2013, Trees of the World trail in the West Park submitting pieces focussed Victoria Park highlights the variation of trees from around on the trees in the park. the world and their many uses throughout The competition winners were: history. In the East Park is a compact 1st prize - Anna Nikiticheva 2nd prize - Wendy Caldon Children’s Tree Walk around the play area 3rd prize - Radka Bailey near The Hub that includes a number of fun 3 Radka Bailey activities for children. Pick up your leaflets for all the trails at the Pavilion Cafe in the West Park or The Hub in the East Park.

Heritage Tree Walk

Trees of the World

Children’s Tree Walk

www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/victoriapark www.treesforcities.org, Registered Charity no. 1032154 Copper beech 4 Monkey puzzle/Chilean pine 7 11 Silver birch Welcome Tree info Araucara araucana Fagus sylvatica purpurea Betula pendula An evergreen tree growing to 40m Beech, like hazel, has been used for Silver birch provides food and habitat This is one of three tree trails created by tall. It can possibly live as long as centuries for its , specifically in for more than 300 insect species - Trees for Cities in partnership with Tower 1,000 years. In France, it is known making furniture. Chairmakers, also the leaves attract aphids, providing as désespoir des singes or ‘monkeys’ known as ‘bodgers’, use the wood food for ladybirds and other species Hamlets and the support of Victoria Park despair’. It even has spines on the as it bends without breaking and is further up the food chain. They are tree trunk! relatively free of knots. also a food for the caterpillars Friends Group. Victoria Park is a great of many moths, including the angle- showcase for the diverse range of trees Directions Activity shades, buff tip, pebble hook-tip and You have to venture off the pathway to The outer leaves are purple, but walk Kentish glory. that can grow within our cities; there are find this tree, close to the wildflower under the tree canopy and the leaves 1 Persian ironwood Parrotia persica meadow. gradually turn a shade of green. Activity over 4500 trees in the park. The trails were This tree has lost its paper white A slow-growing shrub or tree up to trunk near the base. You have to look developed to incorporate the facts people 10m tall. Its common name refers to 8 Lombardy poplar up for that familiar colour on the find most interesting about trees and the incredible strength of its timber. Populus nigra italica newer branches. Autumnal foliage is a rich 5 Lime tree/linden or basswood feature logos, photographs and crimson colour. (line of trees) At around 40 to 50 years this short Tilia species lived variety starts shedding branches. Pin (line of young trees) information created and chosen by They are liable to be blown over in 12 Holm oak/ oak Quercus palustris local children and adults. 2 This old line of trees marked the high winds, each successive tree lost Quercus ilex boundary line for the old churchyard exposing neighbouring trees creating The pin oak can give off a strange that used to stand on this site. Linden a domino effect. skunk-like odour. The bark was used An evergreen tree with tough hard was originally the adjective, ‘made by some Native American tribes wood, used since ancient times for Victoria Park was commissioned by from lime-wood’, the tree is not Activity to make a drink for treatment of construction of pillars, tools and wine related to the citrus fruit called lime Compare the width of the canopy to the stomach pain. Queen Victoria in 1840 in response to public casks. The acorns are an important (Citrus aurantifolia). London plane earlier in the walk. These food source for free-range pigs. demand for a park in the East End; it was trees are often planted in rows to mark Activity boundary lines. Activity opened to the public in 1845 and is now Stand quietly in spring and summer and Stand with your back to the tree and see if you can spot a butterfly in the the largest and most popular park in East face the field. Look up! The branches wildflower meadow. and leaves haven’t grown in this 9 Purple leaved Norway maple London offering a great day out for all. direction because of competition for Acer platanoides ‘Crimson King’ light, in this case, nearby trees. Directions This line of trees forms the boundary of The Norway maple is a fast-growing Trees for Cities (treesforcities.org) is an the wildflower meadow. deciduous tree and strong enough to be grown in exposed positions, even 3 London plane independent charity that works with Platanus x hispanica (acerifolia) as a windbreak. A lot of purple trees communities, residents and schools to 6 Turners oak are copper beeches; you don’t see A large growing tree that copes well Quercus x turneri many purple maples! transform the urban environment and plant with the pollutants generated by cities. The oldest trees of this species date This hybrid was created by a Directions trees in cities where they are most needed. from first plantings around the mid nurseryman, a Mr Turner of Essex, It’s one of the last trees on your 1600’s. None have ever been recorded back in the late 18th Century by left before you exit through the Trees for Cities have joined forces with of dying from old age, so nobody crossing the English oak - Royal Gates. knows how old they could get. - with the holm oak - Tower Hamlets and Victoria Park to celebrate Quercus ilex. The green leaves the park’s trees and help people find out Activity have a white underside. This tree has an interesting split trunk more about them. and a huge canopy. How many paces is Activity Narrow leaf ash it from one side to the other? Can you spot the missing limb? Notice 10 how the other branches are dropping Fraxinus angustifolia Follow the trail to discover some of the more Directions down to fill the gap. In Britain we regarded ash as a healing Take a few paces away from the main tree. Norse Vikings burned the wood to unusual and significant trees in the East Park. path towards Riseholme Gate, the tree is ward off evil spirits and referred to it We hope you enjoy your time on the trail and on your left. as the ‘Tree of Life’. discover something new along the way. Activity Can you spot where a large limb has been lost, leaving a big hole that goes deep into the centre of the trunk? With 12 trees in total, the walk will take 70-90 minutes to complete, or it can be split into two separate walks of 6 trees each, to the north and south of the starting point, each taking 35–45 minutes. Heritage

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