Trail Using the trail Refer to the map with trail markings inside this leaflet. A blue plaque at each of the 14 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 Trees at some of the activities.
The other trails There are two other trails in the East Park. of the The Heritage Tree Walk explores some of the more unusual and significant trees, it Trees for Cities worked with children from the Under can be split into two short walks or one 13s Group at the Eastside Youth Centre in Tower long perimeter walk. There is also a compact Hamlets to create the Trees of the World logo. World Children’s Tree Walk around the play area near The Hub that includes a number of fun activities for children. Pick up your leaflets for Victoria Park all the trails at the Pavilion Cafe in the West Park or The Hub in the East Park.
Trees of the World
Heritage Tree Walk
Children’s Tree Walk www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/victoriapark www.treesforcities.org, Registered Charity no. 1032154 4 European yew 8 Deodar cedar 11 Honey locust Welcome Tree info Taxus baccata Cedrus deodara Gleditsia triacanthos The European yew is an ancient Brought to Britain from its native Native to North America, this tree This is one of three tree trails created by tree widely used to build long bows, Himalayan home during the 1830’s, has big spines on its trunk which Trees for Cities in partnership with Tower spearheads and weapons in the middle this tree can grow to be a giant: up are thought to protect the tree ages. Its leaves, seeds and bark are to 60 metres tall. It is the national from grazing animals. Extracts Hamlets and the support of Victoria Park highly toxic; a cell destroying property tree of Pakistan and Hindus value from the tree have also been used found in its leaves is used for fighting the deodar cedar as a divine tree. to treat arthritis. Friends Group. Victoria Park is a great various forms of cancer. The inner wood is aromatic and showcase for the diverse range of trees used as incense, essential oil and insect repellent for animals in 12 Weeping beech that can grow within our cities; there London plane 5 Black walnut some countries. Fagus sylvatica pendula 1 Juglans nigra Platanus x hispanica (acerifolia) This weeping beech is a great tree are over 4500 trees in the park. The Activity Native to Eastern North America, the to hide under because its branches A hybrid of the American and Oriental How tall is this tree? trails were developed to incorporate the black walnut produces edible nuts that almost reach the floor. While under plane, it is London’s most planted tree, Walk away from the tree but at regular are eaten raw or used as an ingredient its canopy, feel the bumpy, gnarled mainly thanks to the Victorians, who intervals bend forward and look through facts people find most interesting about in ice cream, cakes, oil and flour. The trunk of the tree. planted it due to its extreme tolerance your legs back to the tree. Stop when sap from the walnut tree can be used trees and feature logos, photographs and of air pollution. The tree absorbs you are at a point where you can just to produce syrup and sugar while the Activity pollutants through its bark which see the top of the tree. The height of information created and chosen by local wood is highly prized for furniture How long is the new growth on the it then sheds, creating its unique the tree is equivalent to the distance making, car panelling and flooring. branches this year? The end of the camouflage bark. that you are from it. children and adults. A chemical produced by the roots stem is a different colour to last stops any other plants from growing year’s growth. Activity underneath it. Victoria Park was commissioned by Gently stroke your hand up and down Black mulberry the trunk to feel the peeling bark. How 9 Sweet chestnut Activity Morus nigra many different colours can you count 13 Queen Victoria in 1840 in response to public Can you spot any tasty walnut fruits? Castanea sativa on the bark? King James I encouraged the planting demand for a park in the East End; it was Remove the green husk by rolling it of the black mulberry during the ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire’ under your foot on hard ground. You 17th century, thinking that the silk- - as this Christmas classic suggests, opened to the public in 1845 and is now Golden bamboo will need to let the nut dry out for worm ate its leaves and that Britain the nuts from the sweet chestnut 2 several weeks before you can crack the the largest and most popular park in East Phyllostachys aurea could therefore start producing silk. tree are great for cooking, roasting shell open and eat the nut meat. However, he was sadly mistaken and caramelising. If the nuts are London offering a great day out for all. Native to Southeast China, this plant because the silk-worm prefers the too high to pick, keep an eye out white mulberry. The black mulberry on the ground. is the fastest growing on the planet Maidenhair tree and can grow up to 100cm in 24 6 grows delicious dark red fruits which hours! Bamboo is very strong and used Ginkgo biloba have been eaten since the Roman Trees for Cities (treesforcities.org) is an times and can be used for jams by many different cultures to make Native to China, the gingko is one Common lime (line of trees) and wine. 14 independent charity that works with many products, including: scaffolding, of a kind. It is a living fossil which Tilia x europaea ladders, fishing rods, walking sticks can be traced back 270 million years communities, residents and schools to Activity Many of the limes within this avenue and umbrella handles. to the time when the dinosaurs If you are here in late summer, why not were planted as part of the original walked the planet. In China and Japan transform the urban environment and pick some mulberries to take home. Just Victoria Park design in 1845. Avenue Activity the nuts from the female tree are be careful as mulberry juice can stain tree planting was used by Napoleon plant trees in cities where they are most Run your hand through the leaves and served at weddings and Chinese New clothing and make sure to rinse the during the 18th and 19th centuries to hear it rustle or stand really still next Year. Before being cooked they smell needed. Trees for Cities have joined forces to the bamboo and close your eyes. Can fruits with water before eating them. enable him to walk his army for long like vomit! distances protected by the shade. with Tower Hamlets and Victoria Park to you hear it rustling in the breeze? Activity celebrate the park’s trees and help people Directions Cider gum tree Indian bean tree 7 10 Walk in the shade of the trees then in Keep an eye out for the plaque as you Eucalyptus gunnii Catalpa bignonioides find out more about them. enter the Children’s Playground. the sun in the centre of the avenue. The Indian bean tree, native to Is there a temperature difference? Native to Australia, the cider gum America, has beautiful heart-shaped tree produces a syrup which when leaves and large white flowers. This trail highlights the great variety of Black poplar fermented resembles apple cider, Its seeds are held in long, dangling 3 hence the name. Its bark peels off to Populus nigra betulifolia bean-like pods, hence the name trees from around the world and their expose the white new bark beneath. for the tree. many uses throughout history. We hope The black poplar is one of the rarest native trees in Britain and the nearby Activity Activity district of Poplar is named because If you can reach, get a leaf between you enjoy your time on the trail and Can you find any of the dried up pods of the large number of black poplars your fingers and rub it to release a on the floor around the tree? Break discover something new along the way. which once grew in the marshy ground sweet scent. beside the Thames. the pod open and count the number of seeds you find inside. Directions Look into the shrub boundary next to With 14 trees in total, the walk will Grove Road. take 40–50 minutes to complete. Trees
L of the o ) a n i d l B G o l a o f C a li o a n ri i ii M c o l re e d n a E k f d u p c e n ai b B u ta p li e a la a r g u d lo la ra ro a o tu n s n ( u s g en bi ck nig pe cc pl be ba hy e, ica World m ptu ha go wa ns an s ba ar, ra mb stac Pla an tree, Eucaly ir tree, Gink lnut, Jugla yew, Taxu Populus nig oo, Phyllo tanus x hisp Victoria Park 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
3 Disabled Toilets 10 8 Toilets 2 11
Picnic Café 9 4 Area 7 6 5 12
Garden Children’s 1 Playground Start/Finish 13
The Pavilion Cafe Trail 14
C o a W m e I a n s e a m d e H l p i d s e u S o ro D a i o o p d w a n u e a B n io n h in en v e o ar la ra b n ey nt g p ee ti lim x da d ck ig ea no l ca b a t sa e ia r c deo m s n n big ocu ria ee atic che ea (l Til edar, Cedrus ulberry, Moru tree, Catalpa st, Gleditsia t ch, Fagus sylv stnut, Castan ine of trees), 8 9 10 11 12 13 14