TREE WALK
Not sure where to begin? Below you will find details, in no particular order, of some of the most interesting trees in the village. They are highlighted on the map.
Let's start with an unusual tree. If you were putting together a list of the trees least likely to found growing in Pontesbury, this Antarctic Beech would be a strong candidate. An evergreen fagus or beech, this tree is at home in places like southern Chile and Tierra del Fuego. Turns out there is also one growing just across the road from Zenna! Small, dark green, glossy leaves are slightly crinkled, eventually turning yellow in autumn. From a distance you would be forgiven for thinking this is a small Hawthorn.
Noteable trees nearby: Sweet Chestnut
A wonderful American tree, the Honey Locust or Glenditsia has very small pale green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. Flowers in late spring attract plenty of bees. Wild versions of this species have vicious looking thorns around the trunk, but this one appears to be a thornless variety. Quite similar in appearance to the False Acacia, they produce sweet tasting seed pods that inspired the trees common name. This is the only example we know of in the village, but it is a superb example. Located in a private garden but next to the footpath on Stallion Lane. Well worth a visit.
Noteable trees nearby: Amur Maple
The leaves are what make this substantial oak tree unusual. Not the typical recognisable oak leaf, this species of oak has leaves more akin to a Holly tree, indeed the name Holm is an old word meaning holly. An evergreen species, its leaves are retained all year round. Unlike the Red Oak below, its acorns are produced and dropped in a single year. Holm Oak is actually a Mediterranean tree and considered an invasive species in the UK, especially now that our warming climate has allowed it to extend its range much further north. This specimen was almost certainly planted by whoever started the collection at Beech Manor which includes Elms, Limes and Yews. Best viewed from Manor Park road or near the bus stop on Hall Bank.
Being unfamiliar with this species, we were stumped for a while; unsure what we were looking at. The rather distinctive lobed leaves, somewhere between Oak and Beech in shape, point to a Swedish Whitebeam. These trees are quite compact but can grow to about thirty feet in height. White flowers give way to red berries. A native of the Baltic region, where it often grows on the margins of forests, you will find this specimen growing alongside a Silver Birch on Brook Road.
Noteable trees nearby: Cedar
Some trees seed themselves while others are planted by us humans because we like the way they look. This coniferous species is a long way from its native home in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. Often planted as an ornamental tree, albeit a big one, your probably won't be surprised to learn that the Blue Atlas Cedar has a wonderful blue colour to its low spreading branches. Large cones mature from green to brown and contain sap that is unpleasant for squirrels. Get a great view of this tree on the corner of Brook Road and Mount Way, almost within touching distance of the village's other example of this tree behind the houses on Bridge Leys Lane.
Noteable trees nearby: Korean Fir
Common Oak, English Oak and Pedunculate Oak are all names for the same tree. To many people, an oak tree is an oak tree, and indeed most of the oaks locally are Common Oaks. Common Oak leaves have very short stems and grow in clusters, while their acorns grow on longer stems. The other type of oak the grows locally is the Sessile Oak, which has longer stemmed leaves, but acorns on very short stems. There are plenty of mature oak trees in and around the village but this individual has been around a lot longer than any of us. The Woodland Trust list this particular tree on their ancient tree inventory with a circumference of over 5 meters, making it perhaps 350 years old. Tucked away down Whitwell Lane, you can stand directly beneath and look up at its incredible canopy.
Yew trees are synonymous with church yards and there are various reasons speculated for why this may be the case. Pontesbury's St George's Church yard boasts some excellent trees, including a fine example of a Common Yew. An evergreen, its needles are dark green and grow in two rows along each branch, while the berries are bright red. These incredibly poisonous trees have enormously long lives. There is a Yew on the edge of neighbouring Habberley that has a circumference of five and a half meters, making it perhaps a thousand years old.
Noteable trees nearby: Maidenhair
You may not be familiar with this one, though its Latin name might ring some bells. Sequoiadendron giganteum. A Giant Sequoia. So what is the tallest tree on the planet doing right here in Pontesbury? We aren't sure, but it is a fantastic tree to have in the village. Distinctive cones and scaly leaves make this unique tree easy to identify when up close. Unfortunately, the Pontesbury Sequoia is not the easiest to spot as it is nowhere near its full height, is growing alongside several other tall trees, and is only visible from a distance. Get the best view at the top of Hinton Lane, adjacent to the doctor's surgery, at the entrance to the old dentist car park.
A classic tree, the Lombardy Poplar is a tall, thin, fast growing species. Often planted in lines to form a stately entrance to grand country houses. Probably not one for your garden as they can easily reach a hundred feet in height. There is a single example on Main Road, almost opposite the pharmacy, but have a walk along the public footpath to the top of Bridge Leys Lane, near the farm. You will find two mature Lombardy Poplars as well as two wonderful White Poplar trees right alongside them.
Noteable trees nearby: Narrow Leaf Ash
Originally a tree from the Eastern half of North America, Red Oaks were often planted in the UK for their spectacular autumn foliage; its broad leaves turning bright red before dropping. Acorns stay on the tree for two years. Take a look at the acorns if there are any on the ground nearby, often quite stumpy and brown, quite different in shape to the Common Oak.
Taking you to the Western edge of the village to see a dark leaf version of the Plum tree. This Cherry Plum stays very dark in colour until the autumn when its leaves turn bright firey red. The leaf colour is due to a high concentration of a chemical called anthocyanin, which absorbs green light. The same tree grown in shade would have less strongly purple leaves as it would produce higher concentrations of chlorophyll. The leaf colour is all a trick of the eye.
Noteable trees nearby: Whitebeam
Pontesford Hill Road sits on the edge of a large area of woodland. About half way along you will find an enormous triple trunked Common Lime tree. There are three main types of Lime or Linden trees in Shropshire: Small-leaved, Large-leaved, and Common. Common Lime is a cross between the other two types and isn't usually a naturally wild tree. If you catch this tree in early summer when its flowers are out, the air hums with the sound of thousands of bees who use the tree as a valuable food source. Easy to identify by the pale green 'bract' next to the small fruits, Limes can live for up to 400 years.
Also known as Curly Willow, this small, short-lived tree is easy to spot with its narrow, twisted leaves and branches. There are a few others in the village, but this is the largest specimen and also the one you can get the best view of, close to the bridge on Brookside, where it joins Pontesbury Hill Road.
Just along from the large-leaved Red Oak, is this equally spectacular Pin Oak. See if you can spot the deeply lobed, spikey leaves which are definitely Oak leaf shaped, but with a twist. May only live a hundred years compared to the neighbouring Red Oak's four hundred, but it should still be there in the Autumn so try to catch its often vivid crimson leaves before they fall.
Named for its leaves that quite closely resemble Bay leaves, this native Willow species is rather different in appearance from the much more common Weeping Willow. Bay Willows are fond of wet, boggy ground, which is probably why you will find this specimen growing in the flooded fields at the bottom of Pontesford Hill.
TREES OF PONTESBURY
A mapping project for the trees in and around the village of Pontesbury in Shropshire.
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Use this button to find different species of tree. Once you have filtered the map, you may also use the button below to see which, if any, of these trees are protected.
Protected Trees
Some trees are afforded protected status if they are a high public amenity and come under threat. Use this button to view which trees in the village are protected. Please see below for an additional note about protected trees.
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Out wandering the map but not sure where you are? To help you find the trees you can use this button to display a pin on the map showing your current location.
Highlights
Take a tree walk through Pontesbury to discover the most interesting trees!
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About this Map
We hope you enjoy this map and take time to look out for some of the trees it contains. There are still lots of trees to be added or better identified. Most of the trees displayed are viewable from public streets or footpaths, but please remember that the trees displayed may be either public or private property. Tree identification can be difficult and sometimes we just aren't sure of the exact species. For this reason, we may mark a tree as an Oak when it is actually a Sessile Oak, or a Cherry when it is a Bird Cherry.
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