Swanage Tree Trail Follow our tree trail to discover more about our local trees. Pick up a leaflet from Swanage Information Centre or use this map and design your own route from tree to tree from point 1-10. WP1 1. The English Elms at Sandpit Field The 2 Elms, standing here next to a Poplar tree, are prominent on the Swanage seafront skyline. They have twisted and grown into an unusual shape caused by the exposed nature of the site. Most Elms are dying when they are 20-30 years old, due to the Dutch Elm disease that hit the UK in the 1970’s. Dot Waypoints English Elms image/jpeg WP2 2. The Holm Oaks at Sandpit Field Originating from the Mediterranean, Holm oaks, often known as evergreen oaks, were planted in England for winter greenery, with many examples around Swanage. Note the similarities between the leaves of Holm and our native Holly. Dot Waypoints Holm Oaks image/jpeg WP3 3. A Hawthorn on De Moulham Road This poor hawthorn is one of the last street trees in Swanage, hanging on tenaciously. As a native hedge tree, it produces the abundant white ‘May’ blossom and supports hundreds of insect species and other wildlife. Dot Waypoints WP4 4. The Horse Chestnut at Beach Gardens. This magnificent tree stands out in this area for its sheer size, its girth measuring 4.5m, which could make it at least 150 years old, pre-dating the gardens and the houses in the area as seen in photos of 100 years ago. It is a living link to past land use as it is found on the line of an old field boundary. Dot Waypoints WP5 5. The large Monterey Cypress in Beach Gardens. The Monterey Cypress is found naturally on the Californian coast due to its tolerance of salt winds. When Swanage Town Council acquired this area in the 1930’s, it planted a good variety of trees, including this impressive large cypress, probably to withstand the Atlantic salt winds. Dot Waypoints WP6 6. Winston Churchill Tree This Coast Redwood was planted in 1965 in honour of Winston Churchill. It is a familiar feature to locals and popular for its unusual shape and character. Dot Waypoints Coast Redwood image/jpeg WP7 7. Ancient willow tree in King Georges Park This is likely to be one of the oldest trees in Swanage. This native White Willow is almost 5.5m in girth and classed as an Ancient tree, which means it is old, relative to others of the same species. There are many beautiful specimens in this park, which are common in wetlands. Willow species have a compound in their bark, often used in the past to relieve pain symptoms. Dot Waypoints Willow image/jpeg WP8 8. The Poplars in King George’s Fields The line of poplars, bordering the railway embankment, are Lombardy poplars, planted for their upright shape and fast growing habit. They are pollarded every few years, a common practice for urban trees, which means the top branches are cut back, preventing the trees from becoming top heavy, and promoting fresh new growth. Dot Waypoints Poplars image/jpeg WP9 9. The Monterey cypress in Northbrook cemetery Monterey cypress were introduced to UK in 1838 and became a popular tree for planting in cemeteries due to its faster growth rate than native evergreens. This cemetery was opened in 1856 so this very impressive Cypressus macrocarpa is possibly over 150 years old. Dot Waypoints Monterey cypress image/jpeg WP10 10. The Yews in Northbrook cemetery Yews are among the longest lived trees in Europe and are very common in churchyards. Most of the yews here including these 2 impressive sized trees are Irish yews, thought to be a mutant form derived from our familiar common yew. It was first discovered in Ireland in 18th century.’ Dot Waypoints Yews image/jpeg