Horse chestnut tree in West Barnes Lane is replaced 01/02/11
It was one of the landmarks of Motspur Park, a beautiful grand old horse chestnut. Its magnificent branches enhanced the parade of shops; its trunk was often used as a community notice board.
Its loss has been mourned for the past three years or so after it became diseased and had to be felled.
Now it has been replaced by a new young tree, a red horse chestnut, of the species Aesculus X Carnea Briotii.
The stately species dates from the late 1850s, is frequently used for gardens, avenues of trees and for parkland. It is also resistant to pollution.
Dark pink flowers
This type of tree produces dark pink, almost red, flowers in May and in 2002 received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.
When mature, it can be expected to reach between 45ft and 60ft tall.
The fruits of the red horse chestnut are smaller and less spiny, if present at all, than those of the horse chestnut.
Although the tree can thrive in all soils it is most impressive in early spring when the stocky strong growth bursts into life seemingly on the first warm day in April.
Before then, of course, this tree has some growing to do – disease and vandals allowing. So keep an eye on this youngster and let’s hope it grows to be a fine, upstanding asset to the Motspur Park parade.
The young red horse chestnut has been planted where the old tree stood
Blossom of an adult red horse chestnut
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External links:
Barcham tree specialists
Woodland Trust tree guide
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The old horse chestnut tree was a landmark along the parade of shop
