RICHMOND’S TREE OF THE YEAR IS ON HAM COMMON
The Chestnut Leaved Oak in Ham Common has been crowned Richmond Borough’s Tree of the Year.
Last month, the Council’s Parks team partnered with Habitats & Heritage and Health Walks to run a Tree of the Year competition at the recent Full of Life Fair.
The competition was held to celebrate the natural beauty across the Borough.
Council tree officers identified six eye-catching specimens for attendees to vote on.
Winner
With 46 votes, the Chestnut Leaved Oak in Ham Common emerged as the winner. It’s an unusual specimen, with a characterful globular crown and hairy acorns.
Shortlisted trees
In addition to the Chestnut Leaved Oak, five other trees were shortlisted.
Ulmus ‘Sapparo Autumn Gold’ – Ham Street
Elm was a common species along the river before Dutch Elm Disease devastated the population. These resistant specimens, seen on Ham Street, now provide critical habitat for the White-letter Hairstreak butterfly.
Dawn Redwood – Westerley Ware
A living fossil tree, they display excellent autumn colour as a deciduous conifer. This specimen is easily visible in Westerley Ware when entering the Borough over Kew Bridge.
London Plane – Bridge House Gardens
How big do they grow and how long do they live? The first specimens of this hybrid are still going so we don’t know yet. Find out more about Bridge House Gardens
Sweet Chestnut – Murray Park
Naturalised to the UK this species is the source of roasting chestnuts. The specimens in Murray Park are part of the historic landscape of Whitton Dene and the later rifle range.
Cedar of Lebanon – Grove Gardens
This species is native to Lebanon and Syria, and the timber is recorded as being supplied to King Solomon to construct the First Temple. The trees, as seen in Grove Gardens, have distinctive architectural form and upwards facing cones.