Tree Trail
avery hill tree trail
The Avery Hill Park Tree Trail features 16 trees, each indicated by a post with an embossed sign, taking a circuit of more than a mile around the park.
1. bald cypress
A deciduous conifer, native to the south east United States, and the official state tree of Louisiana.
2. Liquidamber
The Sweet Gum tree has five-lobed leaves and displays magnificent autumn colours of purple, deep red and orange.
3. black walnut
Native to south and east USA, its fruits ripen in the autumn in round green casings. Long leaves with alternate leaflets.
4. London Planes
Three majestic trees shade the Play Area, rising up to 100ft. The distinctive bark peels away leaving a mottled appearance.
5. Sweet Chestnut
An old specimen with deep grooved, twisting bark.
Small fruits in spiky casings in the autumn.
6. Red Buckeye
Smaller than its Horse Chestnut relation, it bears striking red and orange flowers in May with smoother fruits in the autumn.
7. Caucasian Wingnut
A female tree, with long dangly catkins up to 20cms long in spring. Leaves up to 60cms long with more than 20 leaflets. Trunk has a deep network of grooves.
8. PIN OAK
One of Avery Hill’s biggest trees, it flowers in May with bright yellow emerging leaves, which turn scarlet and deep red in autumn.
9. Horse Chestnut
The ‘conker’ tree has very spiky fruits. Spring flowers are white with yellow and red patches.
10. ASH
Twin specimens visible across the park; flowers open in April with male and female clusters on the same tree. Winged fruits turn brown in the autumn.
11. Fallen Oak Stump
Massive remains of an oak which fell in the 2010s, its stump shows the resilience of oak timber.
12. Turkey Oak
Acorns have big woolly cups which fall in October. Leaves are narrow, covered in down above and below.
13. Scots Pine
Orange flaky upper trunks, short stiff grooved needles and cones up to 5cms, they flank the view against Avery Hill Road.
14. English Oak
This huge goblet-shaped tree is amongst Avery Hill’s oldest at between 200–300 years. Acorns on long stalks or peduncles.
15. Copper Beech
Deep purple leaves, flowers and fruit have a pinkish brown tinge. Can grow up to 40m tall but rarely live longer than 200 years.
16. Cedar of Lebanon
Stately, aromatic, gigantic. Layers of branches and grey-green foliage. Part of the landscape of the grandest estates, such as Avery Hill.
Avery Hill tree trail
