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Tuesday 3 March 2015

A Really Old Tree


Believed to be over 300 years old this plane tree in Brunswick Square is equally interesting as it has been allowed to grow to its natural shape.  Most plane trees in cities are radically pruned each year and so never develop the graceful sweeping beaches of this one.

The garden square was next to the original foundling hospital and orphanage, an important feature for   its founders who insisted that the children have an area to play that gave them a sense of being in the country.  London during Victorian times was powered by coal and gas, a thick black fog hung over the city most of the time, not exactly a healthy environment for sickly children.  This area with no industry and open fields provided the nearest to the clean fresh countryside possible.

6 comments:

PerthDailyPhoto said...

They really do look different left to their own devices Mo.. Love the plane trees, what an astounding age this one is!

Luis Gomez said...

Looks beautiful! It seems like you guys are enjoying Spring already.

Aimeecakes said...

Its so nice to see beautiful old trees when they are allowed to grow to their full size and shape

RedPat said...

I have pics of this wonderful tree but always when it had leaves - nice to see its structure. Passed it many times when over there, on my way to The Lamb!

William Kendall said...

Quite a beautiful tree, Mo!

Gunn said...

What a beautiful old tree!!

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