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Home , Cranford Park, Middlesex, Ruislip Gardens, Ruislip Lido

The little book of ’s important trees

Hillingdon

www.hillingdon.gov.uk/greenspaces Hillingdon is the western-most and is the third biggest, measuring about 44 square miles. The borough was formed in 1965 from the Municipal Borough of , Hayes and Harlington Urban District, Northwood Urban District and and Urban District of . The London Borough of Hillingdon is responsible for over 200 parks and open spaces within its boundaries. Since much of the area is within the Green Belt, and it is the least-populated of all the , there are large areas of open space. These range in size from the Colne Valley corridor and National Nature Reserve, to numerous playing fields and the smallest gardens. The borough’s trees are a valuable, and sometimes historic, amenity that once removed can rarely be adequately replaced; it is often only when a tree has been removed, that its value becomes apparent. Trees act as green screens, provide privacy and mask unwelcome views. They act as barriers to wind and noise and act as a filter to pollution. Trees and woodlands act as important wildlife habitats and provide opportunities for enjoyment, study and leisure. They also provide shade and ameliorate high summer temperatures. The borough’s trees are widely appreciated and this leaflet seeks to inform and advise those interested in the borough’s most interesting trees.

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Cranford Park, Hayes Park, Cranford House Eastcote Gardens, Field, Ruislip Poor’s Drive, St Lawrence Eastcote London Plane Recreation Cowley Cowley Ground, London Plane Rockingham Ground, Recreation Uxbridge Sweet Chestnut Park Cranford Countryside Park, Hayes Sycamore Pits, off Copse Gravel Northwood Way, Wood Sycamore Lodge Farm, Park Turkey Oak House Eastcote Eastcote Gardens, Atlantic Cedar Vine Lane, Hillingdon Dove Tree Dove English Oak English Oak Cedar of Lebanon Park Cranford Countryside Park, Hayes Cedar of Lebanon St Peters Way, Hayes Way, St Peters Common Hornbeam Wood, Bayhurst Harefield Deodar Cedar Close, Gateway Northwood ‘Domesday’ Oak

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This map is based upon Ordnance Survey material material Survey This map is based upon Ordnance on behalf of the Survey of Ordnance with permission Office Stationary of Her Majesty’s Controller infringes Unauthorised reproduction copyright. Crown or civil prosecution to and may lead copyright Crown LBH Hillingdon 100019283 2010 proceedings. Lane Rayners West Hounslow 9 15 7 Eastcote 2 Hatton Cross Hatton 12 Ruislip 6 Northwood Harlington Hayes and Hayes terminal 4 terminal Moor Park Express Heathrow 3 8 Heathrow 13 Northwood Hills Northwood Terminals 1, 2, 3 Terminals 5 1 Hillingdon 4 West Ruislip West Uxbridge Terminals 1, 2, 3 Terminals Heathrow Express Heathrow 14 West Drayton West 11 Heathrow Terminal 5 Terminal Denham

Iver 3 Atlantic Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) Vine Lane, Hillingdon This mature Atlantic Cedar is located in the gardens of the privately owned Cedar House in Hillingdon. A native of North Africa, this species of tree has been widely used in this country to enhance parks and gardens with its majestic form. Although at approximately 24m high and 22m across it is not the largest tree of its type in the borough, it makes up for this by being such a prominent landmark tree that can easily be seen from quite a distance away, especially along Uxbridge Road. It bears the scars of having lost several large limbs over the course of its long life, but is protected for future generations under a tree preservation order. 22m Facts Age: 150+ years (approx) Native to: North Africa 24m Location: 1 Cedar House, Vine Lane, Hillingdon, UB10 0NF Tree Preservation Order: 5m TPO 78a 5 Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) Countryside Park, Hayes This Cedar of Lebanon species is another veteran tree of the borough. It is located in Cranford Countryside Park and is west of the main car park. It is native to the mountainous Mediterranean region and Asia. This tree has an impressive circumference of approximately 6.8m, which is considered to be its best feature, and has many characteristics of a veteran tree including decaying wood in the crown and hollowing branches. It also has large major horizontal limbs which contribute to its large crown spread.

24m Facts Age: 150 to 200+ years (approx) Native to: Mediterranean 17m region, Asia Location: 2 Cranford Park Countryside Park, Middlesex, TW5 9RZ 6.8m Council owned 7 Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) St Peters Way, Hayes This mature Cedar of Lebanon tree is located on privately owned land adjacent to St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church Hall, in St. Peter’s Way, Harlington. This species is native to the mountains of the Mediterranean region and can be found in North West Jordan and Western Syria. It is a historically significant and symbolic tree. This species of tree is considered historically to represent incorruptibility and eternal life. It was introduced to Britain in 1638. This tree is impressive for its height which at 18m can be clearly seen from the M4 motorway. This beautiful tree has a high amenity value and is protected under Tree Preservation Order No. 26 (TPO 26) 8m Facts Age: 100 to 150+ years (approx) Native to: Mediterranean region, Asia 18m Location: 3 Adjacent to St Peters and St Pauls Church Hall, St Peters Way, Hayes, UB3 5AB Tree Preservation Order: 4m TPO 26 9 Common Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) Bayhurst Wood, Harefield This mature pollarded Hornbeam is native to the British Isles, and Bayhurst Wood (part of the Ruislip Woods) has an abundance of them. Although many of the hornbeams found in Ruislip Woods are coppiced (the trees are cut on a 20 year rotation at stump level), this particular individual has been repeatedly cut at about 2m, and has subsequently developed a massive head or ‘knuckle’ from which new shoots regularly grow. When trees are cut at a height that stops browsing animals from eating the new growth the management technique is called pollarding.

10m Facts Age: 200 to 300 years (approx) Native to: 8m British Isles Location: 4 Bayhurst Wood, Breakspear Road South, Harefield (near height restriction barrier on drive to the 2m main car park) 11 Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodar) Gateway Close, Northwood This beautiful mature Deodar Cedar is estimated to be about 150 years old, and towers over the properties that surround it that were built decades after it was planted. The tree is situated on privately-owned land at Gateway Close, Northwood, but is freely visible to the public. This species is native to the Himalayas but was introduced into Britain during the 1830s. The tree is protected by Tree Preservation Order No. 104 (TPO 104), which was made in 1972 at about the same time the estate was developed. The TPO has clearly been very successful in protecting this fine tree from harm.

32m

Facts Age: 150 years (approx)

24m Native to: the Himalayas Location: 5 Gateway Close, Northwood, HA6 2RW Tree Preservation Order: 5.7m TPO 104 13 ‘Domesday’ Oak (Quercus robur) Cranford Park, Hayes This veteran English Oak is located in Green Flag awarded Cranford Park in Hayes. The oak tree is native to Britain and Europe where its timber was widely used for major ship building. This tree is considered to be the oldest tree in Cranford Park, and it has a number of characteristics associated with veteran trees, including the hollowing of the trunk and branches. The trunk is so hollow in fact that it is more or less only supported on two sides without any supporting wood in between. It is given extra support with some wooden posts which have been installed.

9m Facts Age: 500 to 550+ (approx) Native to: 13m Britain, Europe Location: 6 Cranford Park Countryside Park, Hayes, Middlesex, TW5 9RZ 6.9m Council owned 15 Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata) , Eastcote This unusual tree is located close to the walled garden in Eastcote House gardens. It is a deciduous and unusual broadleaf tree. Sometime also known as the Ghost tree or Handkerchief tree, it produces large flowers and white bracts in late May to early June. On a breezy day, the bracts flutter in the wind like white doves or pinched handkerchiefs, hence the English names for this tree. The fruit is a very hard nut about 3cm long surrounded by a green husk about 4cm long by 3cm wide, hanging on a 10cm stalk. The nut contains three to six seeds.

8m

Facts Age: 50+ (approx)

10m Native to: Western China Location: 7 Eastcote House Gardens, Eastcote Tree Preservation Order: N/A (protected within the Eastcote Village 0.5m Conservation Area). 17 English Oak (Quercus robur) Poor’s Field, Ruislip Although this oak tree is not especially old or imposing, it is striking because of the shape it has formed over time. The bio-mechanics, or body language that this tree displays says much about the need for maturing trees to adapt to their environment in order to survive. The tree displays all sorts of features, such as historical limb losses; significant, almost horizontal lean to its crown; fire damage; stem hollowing; dead wood; and holes in its stem. Because the tree still retains volumes of live wood in its crown it is able to lay down new wood and respond well to these issues. Walk into Poor’s Field from the Reservoir Road entrance. After passing through the first small field keep to your right and after about 100 paces the tree is on your right, close to the fence and the new lido car park beyond.

Asymmetrical, due to significant lean Facts Age: 100 years (approx) 10m Native to: Britain Location: 8 Poor’s Field, off Reservoir Road, 2m Ruislip 19 From 0.5m to 1m from the ground the tree appears to have developed a swelling around the stem, this is probably as a result of the downward pressure of the weight of the tree where wood fibres are buckling; as a result the tree is forming a ‘lifebelt’ from bulge wood and attempting to counter the forces of gravity.

Facts 20m Age: English Oak 300 to 400 years (Quercus robur) (approx) St Lawrence Drive, Eastcote 18m Native to: Britain This is a fine example of a veteran English Oak. The tree is growing on the grassed island in St Lawrence Drive, Eastcote. Location: 9 St Lawrence Drive, This oak tree is characterised by massive lateral limbs that 5.6m Eastcote spread out across the grass and over the adjoining road. 21 London Plane (Platanus x hispanica) Cowley Recreation Ground, Cowley This mature London Plane is at the entrance to Cowley House Recreation Ground. This type of tree possibly originated in Spain in the 17th Century as a cross between the Oriental Plane and the American Plane. It was widely planted in London as it proved to be extremely tolerant of pollution due in part to its flaking bark. Out of the many, large, impressive trees in this park, this is the tree that greets you as you drive in and is easily visible from the main road. It is one of the largest Plane trees that the council maintains. 23m

Facts Age: 180 to 200 years (approx) 28m Native to: Southern Europe Location: 10 Cowley House Recreation Ground, High Street, Cowley, Uxbridge, UB8 2EA Owned by Hillingdon Council and easily 4.9m accessible. 23 London Plane (Platanus x hispanica) Rockingham Recreation Ground, Uxbridge This mature London Plane tree can be found in Rockingham Recreation Ground, on the eastern edge, next to the river. This species is native to Southern Europe but was introduced to Britain during the mid-17th Century. This tree is a very impressive and prominent landscape feature, clearly visible from some distance away and can be enjoyed by all who visit the recreation ground, providing shade from the sun and a wonderful natural habitat for local wildlife.

25m

Facts Age: 100 to 120+ years 18m (approx) Native to: Southern Europe Location: 11 Rockingham Recreation Ground, Rockingham Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2TZ 4.3m Council owned 25 Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) Cranford Park Countryside Park, Hayes This veteran Sweet Chestnut is located in Cranford Countryside Park and is just to the south of the main car park, a few hundred metres away. This species is native to Southern Europe and Asia, and was introduced to Britain by the Romans for its edible nuts which are traditionally roasted. This tree is a registered veteran tree with the Woodland Trust and has a number of associated characteristics, most notably its significant girth size at almost 6m.

13m Facts Age: 300 to 350+ years (approx) Native to: Southern Europe and 10m Asia Location: 12 Cranford Park Countryside Park, Hayes, Middlesex, TW5 9RZ 5.8m Council owned 27 Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) Gravel Pits, off Copse Wood Way, Northwood This mature multi-stemmed Sycamore is growing besides a small path within the Gravel Pits. Access to the tree is straightforward: park at the top of Copse Wood Way and walk across the grassed picnic area and the tree is close to the path. What is remarkable about this Sycamore tree is the extent of the root plate that supports the vast bulk of the six stems that makes up this large tree. The Gravel Pits is a small wooded open space in Northwood, south of Rickmansworth Road, and are the worked out remains of gravel and sand extraction pits that were operated hundreds of years ago. Sand and gravel would have been transported from here to Ruislip via small lanes and across Poor’s Field, adjacent to Copse Wood and . 14m

Facts Age: 200 to 300 years (approx) 26m Native to: Central, eastern and Southern Europe Location: 13 Gravel Pits, off Copse Wood Way, 6.3m Northwood 29 Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) Park Lodge Farm, Harefield This veteran Sycamore is located on the U31 Public Right of Way – about 90m north of the nearby Park Lodge Farm building. It is a deciduous broadleaf tree, probably introduced to the British Isles in the Middle Ages, where it is now a naturalised species. The tree is made up of several large stems and is probably an outgrown coppice (a traditional method of woodland management which takes advantage of the fact that many trees make new growth from the stump or roots if cut down). It is probably the largest and oldest Sycamore in the borough. Up until about 10 years ago, the tree’s basal area reached across to the ‘stump’ that can be seen to the left of the main stem in the photograph, so was truly an enormous tree. Even now, the remaining part of the stem has a girth of about 6m. It is estimated that, had the entire stem been present, it would have measured about 9m in girth. 15m Facts Age: 500+ years (approx) 20m Native to: Central, eastern and southern Europe Location: 14 Park Lodge Farm, 6-8m Harefield 31 Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris) Eastcote House Gardens, Eastcote This tree is a good example of a mature Turkey oak. The tree is located close to the southern entrance to Eastcote House Gardens. Although Turkey oak was present in the British Isles before the previous ice age, about 12,000 years ago, this tree species was reintroduced back to the British Isles in the eighteenth century. This particular specimen has a tall, straight trunk and is a good example of this introduced species. Leaves from this tree are distinctively rough, while the bark fissures (the spaces between the bark plates) are often streaked orange.

12m

Facts Age: 150+ years (approx) 24m Native to: South-eastern Europe and Asia Minor Location: 15 Eastcote House Gardens, close to Field End Road, 4m Eastcote 33 Produced by the London Borough of Hillingdon August 2015 12277