Download St Andrews Botanic Garden Champion Tree Trail Guide Book

St Andrews Botanic Garden
Champion Tree Trail
Guide Book
Plant Labels Explained
Contents
Introduction
3
World Champion Trees
4
Our Tree Trail
5
1 Apricot
6&7
2 Giant Aspen
8&9
3 Liempde Willow
10 &11
4 Mountain Paper Birch
12 &13
5 Caucasian Lime
14 &15
6 Jacquemont’s Birch
16 &17
7 Korean Whitebeam
18 & 19
8 Mongolian Pine
20& 21
9 Likiang Spruce
22& 23
10 Oregon Alder
24& 25
11 Musk Willow
26& 27
12 Miyabe Maple
28& 29
Additional Champions
30
Further Information
31
Acknowledgments/Notes 32/33
Tree Trail Map
34/35
This standard format is used for all plant labels in the
Garden. The TROBI number is unique to Champion Trees
and appears on the Tree Register website database.
TREE REGISTER OF
THE BRITISH ISLES
number 158100
PLANT FAMILY
Rose family
SCIENTIFIC
NAME
WHERE
FROM
Botanic Garden Accession No.
CODE No. / YEAR PLANTED
COMMON NAME
2
Introduction
Trees are valuable indicators of climate change through their growth patterns. Champion trees are the
tallest, stoutest, oldest or rarest of their kind in an area. A tree may be a Champion for height and/or girth;
or be the oldest but not the tallest or a combination of these characters.
TROBI (Tree Register of the British Isles) is a valuable national archive of over 150,000 champion trees with
information going back 200 years. It was founded in 1988 by the late Alan Mitchell of the Forestry
Commission. With his assistant Victoria Schilling, he travelled the country measuring trees. The Commission
were seeking superior trees to obtain seed to produce higher quality plants and better timber.
The Tree Register is continued by Dr Owen Johnson and David Alderman with many volunteer tree verifiers
throughout the country such as Ian Douglas, Friend of the Botanic Garden and local measurer Judy Dowling.
Alan Mitchell was not the first to measure trees. Interest in trees is well recorded by John Claudius Loudon
in 1838 in his Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum. This was continued by Elwes & Henry in their Trees of
Great Britain and Ireland in 1903 which provided a valuable data base.
In 2004 Mitchell, Schilling and Johnson recorded trees in St Andrews Botanic Garden with Ian Douglas. This
year (2012) Judy Dowling and David Laing, Garden Supervisor, re-measured the girth of every tree in the
Garden; Ian Douglas and Nikki Macdonald re-measured the heights, and David Alderman visited to verify the
trees. With this updated information Dr Johnson has now confirmed which trees are still champions.
Updating the Tree Register database for the entire country is an on-going process providing important
statistics on the growth of British trees. We are very grateful for the help of all involved.
3
World Champions
Trees can grow to be the largest living things on this planet. Whether a dwarf Willow, short-lived Silver Birch,
evergreen Scots Pine with the greatest range of any tree, or an incredibly long-lived Yew, all have a special
role to play in their environment. They are important for biodiversity, providing food and shelter to wildlife.
Even in death they are a rich source of organic matter, decomposing to release nutrients for new life.
The TALLEST tree in the world is Coast Redwood ‘Hyperion’ in Redwood National Park, California at 116 m
(379’). It is the largest of an elite club of only 33 trees which are taller than 110m. Beyond these heights the
tree struggles to transport water and nutrients from the roots to the highest leaves; root systems cannot
support the tree and there is more risk from extreme weather.
The STOUTEST tree in the world is Montezuma Cypress ‘Arbol del Tule ’ in Mexico at a girth of 36 m (119 ft).
Based on the Woodland Trust’s standard measure a British hug is 1.5 m. It would take 24 people with arms
outstretched to fully encircle the trunk of this tree.
The LARGEST tree in the world (based on volume of wood) is Giant Sequoia ‘General Sherman’ in Sequoia
National Park, California at 1,487 m³ (52,508 cu ft).
The verified OLDEST (non-clonal) tree in the world is Bristlecone Pine ‘Methuselah’, White Mountains,
California at 4,844 years. Clonal plants are those where there is new growth from very old rootstock.
These amazing trees are all found near the Pacific coast of USA because the moisture -laden air supports the
growth of these mammoth trees. The next largest specimens are found in Australia, Tasmania and Borneo.
4
Our Tree Trail
The tallest tree in Britain is a Grand Fir in Argyll, Scotland. In 2010 it was 64m (210') high, equivalent to
16 double-decker buses stacked one on top of the other. The oldest is likely to be the Fortingall Yew near
Aberfeldy, estimated to be between 2000 and 5000 years old.
WHERE would you expect to find the largest apricot tree in the country? It is right here in St Andrews
Botanic Garden growing in the Car Park. This Guide Book gives detailed information on twelve of our
Champion Trees. Because many of our trees are rare in Britain, we have a selection of British, Scottish and
County Champions for height and girth. We can now compare the growth rates over eight years between
2004 and 2012.
The girth of each tree was recorded using a measuring tape at the standard 1.5m above ground unless the
tree branched at this height. Then the narrowest section of trunk above or below this point was used.
Heights were measured by Ian Douglas, using the ‘ruler’ method. This involves holding the ruler at arm’s
length, ‘fitting’ the tree on to the ruler, and comparing with an object of known height to work out height.
This is repeated several times and an average taken to ensure accuracy. A laser clinometer is the modern
method for measuring height. The age of all our trees can be found on the label (see page 2).
This trail takes you to the pond and back through some of the most beautiful parts of the Garden. Use the
map at the back of this guide to find your way around. Children’s Activity Backpacks are available when the
Gatehouse is open and a children’s tree trail guide is available to download or borrow at the entrance all
year around. For website details see p31.
5
1
APRICOT– Prunus armeniaca
Family Rosaceae. Native to Armenia, central Asia to China.
BRITISH CHAMPION for HEIGHT 7m and GIRTH 124cm (2012)
The largest apricot tree in Britain.
There are 200 species of Prunus
including plum, damson, cherry,
peach, nectarine and sloe.
This tree produces beautiful
flowers in April which attract bees
and other pollinators, and in hot
summers bears a few fruit.
Spot bracket fungus
feeding on the wood
Planted in early 1970’s with seed
from the University Botanical
Garden Riga, Latvia to research the
acclimatisation of fruit and other
economic plants, particularly
hardiness of peaches and apricots.
6
Blossom
Rich in Vitamin A
Good for jams, jellies and
preserves.
The fruit dries well.
An attractive tree which branches
above 0.6m where the girth was
measured, rather than the
standard 1.5m above ground.
In the wild reaching 10m in height.
Reputed to have been
introduced to Greece by
Alexander the Great, although
domestication was much earlier
in India and China.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 116cm
Girth in 2012 - 128cm
(measured at 0.6m
below fork)
Increase - 12cm in 8 years
In 2005 Turkey was the leading
fruit producer, followed by Iran.
The kernels produce an oil used
in aromatherapy, balms and soaps.
In North Pakistan the longevity of
the people is attributed to
apricot use.
7
This tree grows with
others in the middle of east
border of the Car Park
approximately 2m back
from the edge.
See map position 1
2
GIANT ASPEN – Populus tremula ‘Gigas’
Willow Family Salicaceae. Native to Sweden, Europe & Asia
BRITISH CHAMPION for HEIGHT 18m and GIRTH 155cm (2012)
This special Aspen was
first discovered growing near
Lake Ringsjon in Sweden.
Gigas means ‘giant’ in Greek.
This tree is a triploid form and has
more chromosomes than common
diploid aspen. It has the potential
to grow faster and taller. The
leaves & catkins also grow larger.
Spot red lichen
Lichen - a partnership between fungus
and alga. Alga provides food; fungus
ensures reproduction.
The species name tremula refers
to the way leaves tremble in the
breeze.
This tree came from the
Royal Botanic
Garden Edinburgh in 1970.
8
Catkins
wind-dispersed pollen
Aspen
seeds
float
on the
wind
There are 35 species of
Populus in north temperate
regions.
Aspens grow further north than
any other tree in Scotland and are
found growing on cliffs in Shetland
where even sheep cannot forage.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 129cm
Girth in 2012 - 155cm
(measured at 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 26cm in 8 years
In north America the species
Populus tremuloides is a
pioneer which colonises
quickly after forest fires.
The copious, wind-blown, fluffy
seed is only viable for a few days.
The timber is used for matches
and charcoal.
Native aspens can be seen
by the pond.
(See Scottish Native Trees,
published by the Garden.)
9
This tree is easily
accessed from the grass
path opposite the native
Elm Tree.
See map position 2
3
LIEMPDE WILLOW Salix alba 'Liempde'
Willow FAMILY Salicaceae. Native to Netherlands
SCOTTISH CHAMPION for HEIGHT 19m and GIRTH 132cm (2012)
Lanceolate leaves
(spear-shaped)
Spot rough bark
Once used to make aspirin
British Champion Hillier Garden
Hampshire 31m 336cm girth 2008
Catkins
Liempde is commonly planted in
the Netherlands. The name comes
from a village where the economy
was based on making clogs.
It is a popular variety due to its
resistance to willow-mark disease
- a bacterial disease spread by
birds which makes wood too soft
for anything except firewood.
This tree came as a cutting from
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
in 1970.
10
Seeds
Salix alba Liempde is a male
cultivar of White Willow with a
vertical stem and straight, vertical
side branches. It can reach a
height of 25 m.
It develops a fairly narrow
pyramidal crown. The dark green
leaves appear at the same time as
the yellow catkins.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 116cm
Girth in 2012 -132cm
(measured at 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 16cm in 8 years
The trunk has deep, corky grooves
and the twigs are very bendable.
This tree grows in a group
of other willows in the
Birch and Willow Grove.
The lanceolate leaves have silvery
hairs and are somewhat larger
than other White Willows.
See map position 3
11
PAPER BIRCH - Betula papyrifera var. cordifolia
4 MOUNTAIN
Birch Family Betulaceae. Native to eastern USA and Canada
BRITISH CHAMPION for HEIGHT 12m and GIRTH 78cm (2012)
This is the tallest and stoutest
Mountain Paper Birch in Britain.
Deer browse on the
It survives at higher elevations
than Common Paper Birch.
Papyrifera means ‘paper bearing’,
while the variety cordifolia refers
to the heart-shaped leaves.
SPOT siskins
eating seeds
Native Americans, especially the
Chippewa of the Great Lakes, used
the inner bark for
picture-writing scrolls.
This plant came as seed from the
Belmonte Arboretum,
Wageningen in Holland in 1961.
12
catkins and buds
Birches, alder, hazel and
hornbeam all belong to the birch
family Betulaceae.
There are 35 species of birch in
north temperate regions, many at
the upper tree limit.
Mountain Paper Birch is rare in
cultivation. Paper Birch is more
widely planted.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 75cm
Girth in 2012 - 85cm
(measured at 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 10cm in 8 years
The wood makes good firewood; it
burns when wet. Also used for
furniture and lollipop sticks.
The trunk can be tapped in the
spring for sap from which syrup,
wine, beer, or medicinal tonics can
be made.
The handsome foliage and showy
white bark make the trees
attractive for landscaping.
13
This tree grows
surrounded by other
species of birch in the
Birch and Willow Grove.
See map position 4
5
CAUCASIAN LIME - Tilia dasystyla
Mallow Family Malvaceae. Native to Caucasian Mountains and Russia
SCOTTISH CHAMPION for HEIGHT 13m and GIRTH 190cm (2012)
British Champion Westonbirt
21m tall, 245cm girth.
Large deciduous tree reaching
40m. Can live over 2000 years.
The name dasystyla means ‘hairy
styles’ (the tube pollen travels
through to make seed in ovary)
SPOT an eye
Lime Flowers are a relaxant and
used medicinally in herbal tea.
Aphids are attracted to the rich
supply of sap which in turn
attracts ants to ‘farm’ them.
This tree came from
Hillier Garden Hampshire in 1966.
14
Bees love the fragrant, nectar-rich
flowers. It makes aromatic honey.
Seeds
Caucasia is a geopolitical region at
the border of Europe and Asia,
situated between the Black and
the Caspian sea. It is home to the
Caucasus Mountains, including
Europe's highest mountain,
Mount Elbrus.
GR0WTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 154cm
Girth in 2012 -190cm
(measured at 0.7m
below fork)
Increase - 36cm in 8 years
Lime timber is easy to carve and
was used for shields by the Vikings
and for altar pieces and sculpture
throughout Europe from the
Middle Ages onwards.
The wood has good acoustic
qualities. Used for electric guitars,
wind instruments and drum cases.
Fibre from the inner bark can be
woven into clothing.
Used for window-blinds and
shutters as it is lightweight and
strong.
15
This tree is easily
accessed from the main
path to the pond,
on the edge of the
Birch and Willow Grove
by a Sweet Chestnut Tree.
See map position 5
6
JACQUEMONT’S BIRCH - Betula utilis var. jacquemontii
Birch Family Betulaceae. Found in Himalayas up to 4500m , India
FIFE (COUNTY) CHAMPION FOR HEIGHT 20m and GIRTH 97cm (2012)
The largest of its type in Fife.
British Champion Batsford
Arboretum, Gloucestershire
girth 298cm.
Named after 19th C French
Botanist Victor Jacquemont who
worked in India and died of
Cholera in Bombay aged 31.
SPOT lenticels
breathing-pores in bark
Utilis means ‘useful’. It has been
used as paper since the 3rd C.
Sacred mantras are still written on
bark and worn in amulets for
blessings and protection.
This tree came from
University of Washington
Arboretum, Seattle in 1963.
16
Sanskrit writing
on bark
In its native Himalaya it grows
amongst conifers, with an
under-storey of shrubs such as
Rhododendrons.
These trees depends on snowmelt
for water, rather than rain.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 94cm
Girth in 2012 - 97cm
(measured at 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 3cm in 8 years
The growth rate is lower than
expected. It is possible there
was an error in 2004
measurement OR that a
different tree was measured.
They often have bent growth due
to the pressure of the deep winter
snow in the mountains.
Himalayan Indians call this tree
Bhojpatra.
The tree is endangered by
over-use mainly for firewood.
A high altitude nursery was
established in 1993 in the
Gangotri National Park near the
source of the sacred Ganges river.
By 2000 over 12,500 saplings had
been planted.
17
This tree is easily
accessed from the main
path to the pond, on the
left , growing opposite the
Caucasian Lime.
The ‘A’ on the label means
it is the first of more than
one planted. The others
will show B, C etc
See map position 6
7
N Korea
KOREAN WHITEBEAM Sorbus alnifolia var. submollis
S Korea
Rose Family Rosaceae. Native to Korea, China and Japan.
SCOTTISH CHAMPION for GIRTH only, 93cm (height 10m) 2012
Insects pollinate the flowers in May
British Champion Westonbirt,
Gloucestershire 12m tall.
Birds eat the red berries
A medium-sized deciduous tree
growing to 20 m tall in shady
mountain forests of stone pine
at elevations of 500 - 2400 m.
SPOT nest-like hollow
The seeds contain hydrogen
cyanide which is poisonous in
large quantities.
The wood is even-grained and can
be used for furniture.
This tree came from Hillier
Gardens Hampshire in 1966.
18
The timber was
used for making
rulers in Russia
Bark
This tree, like our native Rowan, is
a type of Mountain Ash of which
there are 193 species.
All are small, deciduous trees
native to cool-temperate regions
of the Northern Hemisphere.
The greatest diversity of species
occurs in the mountains of west
China and Himalaya.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 82cm
Girth in 2012 -96cm
(measured at 0.7m
below fork)
Increase - 14cm in 8 years
Alnifolia mean ‘alder-leafed’ the leaves resemble those of
alder (see no. 10 Oregon Alder).
Submollis means ‘soft-hairs below’
describing the underside of
leaves.
This particular tree is highly
branched and overshadowed by
the large Roble Beech, causing it to
grow at an angle towards the light.
19
This tree is easily
accessed from a side path
to the right of Tree 6. It
grows in the shadow of a
Roble Beech from Chile
which can grow to 50m!
See map position 7
8
MONGOLIAN PINE Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica
Pine Family Pinaceae. Native to Mongolia, S Siberia and NW China
SCOTTISH CHAMPION for HEIGHT 11m and GIRTH 67cm (2012)
windNeedles in pairs
pollinated
cones
SPOT
cones & needles
British Champion Girth 99cm 2009
Thenford House, Northamptonshire
British Champion Height 13m 2010
Kew Gardens
Mongolian Pine is a variety of Scots
Pine with shorter needles than our
native tree. Scots Pine has the greatest
range of any tree in the world.
Squirrels and birds feed on the seeds
It grows from the Arctic Circle in
found inside the bracts of the cones
Scandinavia to south Spain and from
west Scotland to east Siberia.
It grows from sea level to 2,400 m.
An evergreen tree, the needles grow in
pairs and stay on the tree for 2 or 3
years.
This tree was planted from wildcollected seed from China in 1981.
20
Bark
seeds
Scots Pine is an important
forestry tree used for pulp, timber
and construction. Introduced to
USA in 1600’s, now invasive.
Tar, resin and turpentine can be
extracted from the wood.
It was the most popular Christmas
tree until 1980s when ousted by
Sitka Spruce, Douglas-fir & others.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 50cm
Girth in 2012 - 67cm
(measured 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 17cm in 8 years
Drops of sticky resin often cover
the tree's buds and also provide a
natural preservative for the wood.
The high resin content makes the
wood very slow to decay.
For this reason it has been used
for telegraph poles in Britain and
abroad.
If a Scots Pine dies standing, the
skeleton can persist for up to 100
years before falling down.
21
This tree grows on the
edge of the
Friendly Wood beside
an Australian Eucalyptus
tree.
See map position 8
9
LIKIANG SPRUCE - Picea likiangensis
Pine Family Pinaceae. Native to the Likiang region, SW China
COUNTY CHAMPION for HEIGHT 17m and GIRTH 142cm (2012)
Single NEEDLES grow
in whorls around twigs
SPOT a
pigeon nest
British Champion
Dawyck Botanic Garden
20m tall 166cm girth (2005)
Look for cones at the
The name likiangensis means
‘Likiang-born’ from Likiang in
South-West China.
Spruce cones are long and smooth
compared to the pine cones.
Trees grow above 3,300m. Now
endangered by over-felling, fires,
earthquakes and climate change.
This specimen came from the
Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
in 1964.
22
tree top or on the ground
Resin protects
the tree
from disease
Discovered by a French
missionary in 1884.
Likiang Spruce is native to the
mountains of west Sechuan,
China.
The maximum height is listed as
20m. This one only has 3m to go
to match this.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 126cm
Girth in 2012 - 142cm
(measured 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 16cm in 8 years
The British Champion at
Dawyck Botanic Garden
has already attained this height.
Likiang Spuce are variable trees
with several forms.
We are currently awaiting
confirmation from
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
of whether this tree is a
montigena OR balfouriana
variety.
23
This tree is easily
accessed from the lawn
by the pond
growing with other
conifers.
See map position 9
10
OREGON ALDER - Alnus rubra
Birch Family Betulaceae. West USA from California to S.W Alaska
FIFE CHAMPION for HEIGHT 19m and GIRTH 181cm (2012)
Britain Champion Penglais , Wales
32m tall and 238cm girth (2002).
Rubra means ‘red’. The red inner
bark was used as a dye and
medicine for insect bites by
Native American Indians.
SPOT
bushy
Look for
…. lichens
Siskins eating
seeds
Indicators
of good air
quality
In spring dangling red male
catkins and erect female
catkins appear. They are
wind-pollinated and ripen to
cone-like fruits in
September.
Used in building canals as alder
does not rot in water.
Alder is short-lived. It does not
compete well in shady woodland
so dies out as other trees colonise.
This tree came as a sapling from
Plus Trees Nursery,
Auchterarder in 1978.
24
Cone-like
fruit.
Seeds are
eaten by
siskins and
red poll
This is the largest species of
alder in North America and
one of the largest in the
world, growing to 35 m tall.
It is a fast-growing,
wind-resistant tree, and is
used for shelterbelts.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
Girth in 2004 - 173cm
Girth in 2012 - 181cm
(measured 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 8cm in 8 years
It is usually always found within
200km of the Pacific Coast
except in one small pocket in
Idaho.
In its native Oregon, deer and
elk browse on the leaf buds in
the spring and the twigs in
winter while beavers eat the
bark all year around.
25
This tree is easily accessed
from the path around the
pond. It grows beside its
slightly smaller twin which
planted a the same time.
See map position 10
11
MUSK WILLOW - Salix aegyptiaca
Willow Family Salicaceae. Native to Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Iran
BRITISH CHAMPION for HEIGHT only, 14m (girths 99, 101, 80 cm) 2012
Champion Girth 134cm Wisley.
Musk refers to the sweet smell of
catkins; the name aegyptiaca
suggests the tree grows in Egypt.
Male catkins were made into a
drink, or sugared and eaten.
Also used to perfume for linen.
Spot
the
moss
Spot the …
This is a male tree. White catkins
appear in January maturing to
yellow pollen-covered catkins.
Female trees have greenish-white
catkins which produce seeds.
Rd lichen
Moss needs more moisture
This tree came from Royal Botanic
Garden Edinburgh in 1970.
to grow than lichen.
26
Male
Catkins
Willows grow worldwide but
mainly in northern temperate
regions.
Cultivation of Musk Willow
extended from Egypt to Kashmir
and central Asia.
GROWTH RATE CHECK
(OLD CHAMPION)
Girth in 2004 - 75cm
Girth in 2012 - 80cm
(measured 1.5m
above ground)
Increase - 5cm in 8 years
Introduced to Austria in 1874 by
the Shah of Persia’s physician, and
from there to Britain.
This is one of two trees planted in
1970 and has just surpassed its
sibling in height.
The deposed champion is in the
Birch/Willow Grove where it
grows at a considerable slant.
Tree height is measured from the
ground to tree top, rather than
ltrunk length so the more upright
3-stemmed specimen is the
British Champion.
27
This tree is easily
accessed from the grass
path in the Order Beds.
It is three-stemmed
with a weeping habit.
See map position 11
MIYABE MAPLE - Acer miyabei
12
Maple Family Aceraceae. Native to Japan
SCOTTISH CHAMPION for GIRTH 154cm (Height 13m) 2012
British Champion Tatton Park
Cheshire 14m tall, 185cm girth
(2009).
The thick foliage makes this a good
shade tree. The 5-lobed leaves
turn gold in autumn.
Spot
Seeds are called a ‘samara’.
They spin like a helicopter blade
when falling from the tree helping
seed dispersal.
An endangered species
confined to scattered locations
by streams and rivers in Japan.
heart-shape
This tree came from Royal Botanic
Garden Edinburgh in 1964.
28
Clusters of yellow-green flowers
in spring
Winged seeds
GROWTH RATE CHECK
(OLD CHAMPION)
Girth in 2004 - 141cm
Girth in 2012 - 154cm
(measured 1.2m
above ground)
Increase - 13cm in 8 years
This delightful tree beautifully
illustrates the importance of trees
for biodiversity.
The birdbox in the branches offers
a home to nesting blue-tits.
The leaves feed numerous
invertebrates, which provide food
for birds and other animals.
The flowers provide nectar and
pollen for bees and other
pollinators.
The seeds provide food for birds
and small mammals in autumn.
The wood itself plays host to
Lichens, mosses and fungi.
See jelly ear fungus in scar.
Like epiphytes of a tropical
rainforest, even other plant
species grow in the crook of the
branches. The seeds will have
been deposited by perching birds.
(See holly above.)
29
This tree is easily
accessed from the main
path opposite the Glass
Houses. It grows at the
front of the border.
See map position 12
Additional Champion Trees in the Garden
The twelve trees in our trail are a SELECTION of our champions which grow in accessible locations.
There are actually six British Champions, twenty-two Scottish Champions and fifty County or Fife Champions.
Details of these trees can be viewed by members at the Tree Register website or found in the book
Champion Trees of Britain and Ireland—The Tree Register Handbook by Owen Johnson, foreword HRH
Prince of Wales, 2011, available from the Tree Register website or Kew books.
This is an ever-changing league table however, as trees in other sites may overtake these ones in growth,
they may die from disease, or gales such as we have experienced in the winter of 2011/2012 wreak havoc
amongst trees. St Andrews Botanic Garden has not lost any champion trees in the recent gales probably
because they are quite small in stature and the relative shelter of the site. Instead many of the tall shelter
belt conifers have toppled or limbs of larger trees have been lost.
Total British - 6 champions Additional to guide Cercidiphyllum magnificum Diostea juncea
Total Scottish - 22 champions Additional to guide Frangula alnus (oldest tree in the Garden; over 100 years
old from the original University Garden) Sorbus semi-incisa
Total County - 50 champions Additional to guide Abies numidica Abies veitchii
30
Websites and Further Information
St Andrews Botanic Garden Tree Trails
The Champion Tree Trail guidebook is available to download from www.st-andrews-botanic.org.
There is also a Native Tree Trail at the Garden. The Scottish Native Trees guidebook is available from the
Gatehouse (April to September) or by contacting the Education Officer. The ‘Wood is Good’ Trail for
children looks at the uses of different timber, is open April to September and Friendly Wood Trail is open
all year around. Children’s activity backpacks are available to borrow from April to September from the
Gatehouse. Education Officer St Andrews Botanic Garden [email protected]
For further information visit
Tree Register website at www.treeregister.org. There is a members-only area to access the tree database
however there is a wealth of information on tree measuring and other champions trees available to all.
Visit the Woodland Trust website at www.woodlandtrust.org.uk for information on woodland throughout
Britain and www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk for information on Ancient Trees and where to find them.
Members receive a quarterly magazine. The Woodlands Trust’s Nature Detectives Website
www.naturedetectives.org.uk has lots of ideas and activities for children.
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh - Includes a selection of champion trees - www.rbge.org.uk
Dundee Botanic Garden - Includes a selection of champion trees - www.dundee.ac.uk/botanic/
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Acknowledgements - Many thanks to everyone
This trail and booklet could not have been compiled without assistance from the following people:
Louise Trowe
David Laing
Davie Dunn
Peter Watson
Fife Creative Learning Network
Garden Supervisor St Andrews Botanic Garden
Gardener St Andrews Botanic Garden
Gardener St Andrews Botanic Garden
Funding for the project
Tree measuring and data, labels, posts
Installing information posts
Installing information posts
Bob Mitchell
Nikki Macdonald
Ian Douglas
Anne Lightwood
Edith Cormack
Les Hunter
John Wilson
Alex Davidson
Pam Robertson
Pam Brunt
Honorary Curator St Andrews Botanic Garden
Education Trust, Education Officer
Friend of the Botanic Garden, Tree Measurer
Friend of Botanic Garden
Friend of Botanic Garden
Friend of Botanic Garden
Education Trust Secretary
Education Trust Tutor
Education Trust Tutor
Education Trust Volunteer
Botanical text, photographs and advice
Text and photographs
Tree heights and advice
Interpretation Design and editing
Botanical advice and editing
Sign posts
Publications, editing etc
Advice on trail content
Advice on trail content
Post painting
Dr Owen Johnson
David Alderman
Judy Dowling
Tree Register, Registrar
Tree Register, Director
Tree Register, Verifier
Verification and advice
Verification and advice
Tree measuring, advice
Supported by …Fife Creative Learning Network & the Friends of the Botanic Garden
Text by St Andrews Botanic Garden Education Trust 2012 [email protected]
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Your Notes
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Champion Tree
Trail Images
Cover Photograph - David Alderman and Judy Dowling
measuring the Jacquemont Birch
David Alderman, David Laing, Ian Douglas, Judy Dowling,
Nikki Macdonald verifying tree data for the Tree Register
Champion Tree Trail posts being put in by Peter Watson,
John Wilson, Davie Dunn and Nikki Macdonald
Pupils from Canongate Primary School on the Champion
Tree Trail with Nikki Macdonald
Text, Photographs/Illustrations by Nikki Macdonald and Bob Mitchell
© Copyright 2012 St Andrews Botanic Garden Education Trust
St Andrews Botanic Garden Education Trust Charity No SCO 36705
Registered office: c/o Murray Donald Drummond Cook LLP
Kinburn Castle St Andrews KY16 9DR
Supported by …Fife Creative Learning Network, Friends of the Botanic Garden and
Tree Register of the British Isles (TROBI. Compiled by St Andrews Botanic Garden Education Trust
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