This walk introduces twenty two interesting trees growing in Ladywell Fields. Some are common while others rare. Some are native while others are exotic, from as far away as North America, Australia and Iran.
Ladywell Fields has particularly fine Black Poplar trees which like the moist riverside setting. They are dioecious, meaning there are both male and female trees, although the majority seen everywhere these days are males. Black Poplars are genetically very varied and subspecies can be hard to distinguish. However we definitely have some native Black Poplars (Populus nigra ssp. betulifolia), including female trees, which are now rare.
1. We start at the northernmost tip, the entrance on Ladywell Road. Here is the first tree of interest, a Monterey Pine (1). This originates from California and in spring it has extraordinary flowers. Look out for the Firecrest, a small bird sometimes seen in this tree.
Just beyond the pine is a birch and behind that a Black Walnut tree. It has long catkins in May and large compound leaves that droop downwards. From the summer onwards look out for the walnuts which are green and sit at the leaf joints. They are edible but have very thick shells which require special nutcrackers. There is another, larger, Black Walnut tree about 100 yards further upriver, but it is largely hidden from view.
2. Just before the bridge into the hospital, notice the two large trees to your right, followed by another growing back from a stump. These are female Black Poplars (2) with small leaves that flutter in the breeze. Poplars are trees you can often hear rustling, for which we have a special word in English: susurration. In May each year they shed a snow storm of seeds, forming a white carpet beneath.
3. Walk further along and you will find more Black Poplar trees (3) susurrating to your left along the river. These are male trees, with larger leaves and are probably hybrid Black Poplars.
4. As you reach the footbridge at the southern perimeter of the hospital grounds, cross to admire the trees on the eastern bank. Downstream is a Mimosa (4), with tiny fern-like leaves and yellow flowers. It originates from Australia and probably likes this sheltered position.
5. Upstream is a fine row of white/grey poplars, probably Bolle’s poplar, growing along the river bank. Because they are growing so close together they have become very tall and bend easily in the wind. They have beautiful silvery-grey bark.
6. Continue past the playground and over the curly bridge to the middle field. Just as you reach the bottom of the bridge, you will see ahead of you a fine veteran female Black Poplar tree (6). She is the largest remaining female Black Poplar in Ladywell Fields and probably dates from before 1889, when the old water meadows were drained to create the park. She sheds her snow carpet of seeds in late May or June.
7. Keep left and follow the path along the riverside and you will soon see a Coast Redwood (7), with its distinctive spongey red bark. These grow very tall in their native California but reach only a more modest height in the UK. Again, it likes the moist soil of the river-side.
8. Just beyond the redwood is a Crimean Lime (8). This looks like a lime tree but the branches are weeping and the leaves quite small and waxy. In winter when its drooping, tangled branches are easily visible, they are often said to the be ugliest tree in the park
9. Next is the Lewisham Elm (9), the only tree in the park with its own sign and designated one of The Great Trees of London. Since Dutch Elm Disease struck the UK in the late1960’s only a few mature elms have survived and this is one. The disease actually strikes at all elms, not just Dutch ones, so it is uncommon to see any elm over 20 years old. The sign says this is a rare variety, the ‘Klemmer’, or Flanders Elm. Some experts think that it is actually a European White Elm, which is also rare and makes its survival no less remarkable. Look for the much smaller tree nearby (10), which was grown from a seed of this great tree.
11. Next along this path is a fine row of four London Plane trees (11). The London Plane is not in fact a native, but thought to be a cross between the Oriental Plane and the American Plane. It was widely planted across London in the 19th century when urban pollution made it difficult for any tree to survive. Its waxy leaves and peeling bark, combined with the ability to grow in very poor soil, made it the ideal tree for Victorian London.
12. Continue to follow the river upstream to the bridge and you will enter the Southern field. Here, on either side of the bridge you can find native Black Poplar trees (12) planted in early 2022. Of the two nearest the bridge, the one to your left (east) is female, the one to your right (west) male. At the time of writing there are eight new native Black Poplar trees along the river in Ladywell Fields and we hope to plant more. These ones were propagated from trees growing in Sussex where great efforts have been made to reintroduce them.
13. Carry on walking along the river, past two more London Plane trees and note on your left a newly planted Aspen and then another bridge. If you cross half way and look back you will see an Indian Horse Chestnut tree (13) on your left (south). This has the distinctive leaves of a common horse chestnut, but is more delicate and flowers somewhat later, usually early June. Its conkers come in leathery, spineless husks.
14. Returning to the path, after the paved events area, notice the Manna Ash tree (14) ahead and to your right, just before the playground. It is an odd tree as the bark changes about a metre above the ground. In times past Manna Ash trees were commonly grafted onto a Common Ash tree, and on this old tree you can clearly see the grafting point.
15. Just beyond the playground you will see the Community Orchard (15). The first trees were planted in 2011 when the park was renovated. The orchard area is only mown once a year in August which has allowed wildflowers to establish themselves amongst the trees. In the summer you should see apples, pears, plums and cherries. A sign on the far side tells you when it is time to pick. A group of volunteers helps to look after them.
16. Turn back at this point and take the path running diagonally up the hill, between a row of cherry trees. In front of you on either side of the path are a fine pair of English Oak trees (16). They have grown without obstruction and have developed that classic oak shape which is so beautiful. They probably mark the line of an old hedgerow from the days when this was Kent countryside.
17. From the centre of the southern field, turn right and walk downhill towards the river. As you turn, in the distance you will see the remains of a row of tall, spire-shaped Lombardy Poplars (17) along the boundary between the park and the school. They are the Italian Black Poplar, which came to the UK in the 1750s. They have the typical fluttering leaves of the poplar.
18. Carry on past the Golden Willows (18), which at first seem to be growing a little too far from the river. However as regular park users know, there is in fact a small underground stream running down this hill, which presumably gives them all the water they need. The stream is the reason the path at the bottom often floods in wet weather.
19. As you reach the river turn left, along the path on the near side. You may notice that at the corner there is another female Black Poplar tree growing high above you, just beyond the park boundary. The path then takes you under the railway bridge.
20. As you come out into the next field, keep to the path as it turns back towards the river. As it passes close to the river, look for a special tree, the Caucasian Wingnut (20). This species originates from Iran and is only occasionally found in parks. This one is on the river bank itself, a few metres from the path. In summer it has catkins up to 50cm long which turn into tresses of small green nuts.
21. Continue along the path following the river. Just before the backwater in the river you will see another poplar, this time a Balsam Poplar (21). It has large spade shaped leaves which feel a bit waxy to the touch. In the spring the buds have a wonderful aromatic scent from which it takes its name.
22. As you continue your walk you will also notice more Black Poplar trees along this stretch, planted in a row, but not straight. These probably follow the old course of the river, which was moved when the park was created. They are old native Black Poplars and are all males. Through DNA testing they have been identified as the Manchester clone, which was extensively planted in polluted cities. In spring you will see them covered in red catkins.
The Ladywell Field tree walk ends here, and you can either exit into Malyons Road, or continue back over the spiral bridge to the northern field.