Now on its Third Edition this brilliant little book details all the tree types you can expect to find in London with a 5 leaf rating system to indicate their rarity.
Throughout the Author’s love for London’s trees shines out (with the stark exception of the Chanticleer Pear!) the book grew out of a blog thestreetree.com and this fascination with how trees define the boundaries and character of our urban villages has tapped into a burgeoning interest in our local environs. Heightened by the familiarity brought on by Lockdown and street level community action.
In an interview I heard Paul say that if he were dropped blindfolded into a part of London on release he would know where he was from the trees on the street. This is partly down to the city’s underlying geology but even more to the freedom given to each Council tree officer in determining what trees they’d like to grace their thoroughfares.
Using the book I looked afresh at the trees where I live in Bromley. I knew already that I had a False Acacia outside my window but was fascinated to learn that the branches that often fall off it are a characteristic of its brittle nature. Nearby roads lined with ornamental cherries are I was glad to discover a feature right across London – Our own metropolitan Sakura heralding spring.
Interspersed throughout the species descriptions are fascinating articles such as “How much is a street tree worth?” and “London’s street trees in Art” making it both a comprehensive guide and a fascinating read. At the back are six tree walks a snapshot of one of his other books London Tree Walks starting from a tube or rail station I’m looking to try one soon.
You may well already own a copy of this book but if not then I thoroughly recommend it as a one of your essential London guides. As with all good books this will make you look anew and appreciate more what is so familiar to us. Those ever changing yet constant sentinels that frame our city’s streets and architecture.
