12 LONDON TREES

'We may say that London begins where tree trunks commence to be black.' (Ford Madox Ford)
1.The Lucombe Oak, Kew Gardens
Originally raised in the eighteenth century by a Mr Lucombe, this cross between two other types of oak was first planted at Kew in 1773. Lucombe loved his tree so much that he wanted to be buried in a coffin built from its wood, and he felled one of his first examples for this purpose.
2.Maidenhair Tree, Kew Gardens
One of the oldest trees in Kew, this gingko was planted in 1762, only a few decades after the first specimens had been introduced to Europe from China.
3.Corsican Pine, Kew Gardens
Situated just inside the main gate, this is one of the hardiest specimens at Kew, since it has survived several lightning strikes and an accident in the pioneer days of aircraft when a biplane crashed into the top of it.
The Wembley Elm
In front of the Greyhound pub, this was long a meeting point for people making their way to Wembley Stadium.
4.The Dorchester Plane
Planted outside the Dorchester Hotel at the time it was built, it has become a West End landmark.
5.TS Eliot Tree, Russell Square Gardens
An Irish Yew was planted here in memory of the poet in 1996.
6.Anne Frank's Tree, New Row, WC2
This was planted in New Row in 2001 by the actress Hannah Gordon and dedicated by Sir Ben Kingsley to mark the tenth anniversary of the Anne Frank Trust and, according to the plaque by it, 'as a place to reflect on all the children who have died owing to the wars and persecution in the last century'.
7.Storm Tree, The Strand
A year after the Great Storm of 1987, this tree was planted by the City of Westminster to commemorate a destructive event in which nearly 250,000 trees were lost in the Greater London area.
8.St James's Church Indian Bean Tree, Piccadilly
An example of a rare species of tree in the heart of the West End.
9.Fulham Palace Oak
Five centuries old, the tree was planted at much the same time as many of the buildings in Fulham Palace were erected.
10.Barn Elms Plane
London is renowned for its plane trees and this massive specimen, in Barn Elms Park, Barnes, is the oldest of them all.
12. Charlton House Mulberry
Planted in the early years of the seventeenth century, the tree is a reminder of the silk trade that flourished in outlying areas of London.
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