Trees in Nailsea - by Terry Smith – Nailsea Tree Wardens

Wellingtonia outside Nailsea Police Station

When Nailsea was developed in the 1970s many street trees were planted and these are now beginning to reach maturity. However, several trees in the town centre pre-date this period, notably the large English Oak tree (Quercus robur) which gives the Royal Oak public house its name, probably planted about 1890, and the more recent oak on the village green, planted to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. The tree that is likely to become the largest in Nailsea is to be found next to the Police Station. This is the Wellingtonia or Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum), named after the Red Indian Chief, Sequoia, who first devised a written language for the Cherokee tribe. Adjacent to

Bark of a Plane Tree in Somerset Square

this is a Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum) that can also grow quite large, though this position is not ideal. .

On the West side of Sycamore House is a cluster of Corsican Pines (Pinus nigra ssp maritima), while to the north are two variegated Norway Maple trees (Acer platanoides cv Drummondii). In the centre of the adjacent public car park is a fine specimen of the red-leafed variety of Norway Maple, Crimson King. To the south is the unmistakable blue foliage of the Atlantic Cedar (Cedrus atlantica var. glauca). Somerset Square is lined with the London Plane (Platanus x hispanica), ideal for this site, though requiring to be pollarded to prevent them from taking over the Square, and sometimes afflicted with the fungal disease anthracnose (Gnomonia veneta) which causes the leaves to fall prematurely. In Colliers Walk, there are several specimens of Hers’s Maple (Acer hersii), one of the so-called snake bark maples. Some of these trees have a scale insect (Pulvinaria regalis), which although unsightly, appears to do little damage. The car parks close to the supermarkets are widely planted with Mitchell's Whitebeam (Sorbus thibetica), while the Clevedon Road car park has the 'copper' Beech (Fagus sylvatica var. purpurea)

Christ Church churchyard has a fine Yew Tree (Taxus baccata) probably planted when the Church was built (1843). There is also a rare orange-leafed Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus var. brilliantissimum), which was planted to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Church. To the south of this area are two Crab Apples (Malus cv John Downie and cv Cowichan). The first is covered in white blossom early in the year, to be followed later by red and yellow fruit. Next to the Library there are two Silver Birch trees (Betula pendula) and a Horse Chestnut (Aesculus x carnea) that bears bright red flowers. A substantial Beech tree (Fagus sylvatica) is found in the drive of the new vicarage, and near to the old vicarage are

The Oak Tree on the Village Green

several examples of the Common Lime (Tilia x europaea), while on the east side of the Health Centre is a Silver Lime (Tilia tomentosa), a species which is less likely to be invaded by aphids as it has hairy leaves. A particularly good example of the variegated Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus cv variegata) may be found in Station Road almost opposite the east end of Ash Hayes Road.

In the last few years attempts to plant trees in public places in Nailsea have been largely defeated by vandalism, but a successful 'Free Tree Scheme' administered by the Tree

Red Horse Chestnut near Nailsea Library

Wardens enabled the introduction of over 100 ornamental trees into private gardens. More recently 230 Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Lime (Tilia x europaea), Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Tulip Trees (Liriodendron tulipifera) have been planted on the Scotch Horn playing field. Although several of these have been vandalised, it is to be hoped that most will survive. Many of the trees around the center of Nailsea have now been labeled, mapped and catalogued.

On the moor, the trees near to the rhynes are mainly Willows, Poplars and Alders, while most of our native trees may still be found in the hedgerows. Several examples of these can be found in Stockway North Nature Reserve, and in the grassed area adjacent there is a Common Walnut (Juglans regia), a tree introduced by the Romans together with the Sweet Chestnut. To the north of Nailsea and easily

Oak at the Royal Oak

accessible by footpaths is Towerhouse Wood, a piece of semi-natural ancient woodland that is a relic of the time when England was covered in trees. This wood is owned by the Woodland Trust and open to the public. A leaflet is available from the Public Library describing the wildlife in this wood. Closer to Nailsea, a small woodland remnant hiding several Pennant Stone quarries is still to be found between Trendlewood and Station Road, though this is suffering from the proximity to civilisation. Nearby is an ancient Oak, which from its girth is at least 200 years old and should now be formally identified as a veteran tree. We have inherited these trees and we should take care of them for the benefit of future generations.

Terry Smith tel. 01275 85 4317 e-mail: t.a.smith@blueyonder.co.uk Photos June 1995