News

New tree planting at Anglesey Abbey

Published:: 22 January 2025
Last updated:: 22 January 2025

A group of staff and volunteers watch on as the gardeners prepare to plant a tree in the hole dug in the ground. — Staff and volunteers join to watch the tree planting | © David Boughey

Feel-good factor at Anglesey Abbey as garden team plants new trees in the Arboretum.

This week, former Head Gardener Richard Ayres, revisited the National Trust property in Cambridgeshire to plant a Black Walnut tree alongside his son, Chris, who has been gardening at Anglesey Abbey for some 38 years.

The Black Walnut tree (Juglans nigra) is one of three new trees that the gardening team of staff and volunteers have recently planted. It stands alongside a Mongolian Lime tree (Tilia mongolica ‘Buda’) and a Bee tree (Euodia hupehensis) in the Arboretum at Anglesey Abbey.

Kevin Tookey, Garden and Outdoor Manager at Anglesey Abbey, said, “Tree-planting is always a moment to be celebrated, and we hope that these new trees will add beauty and variety to the gardens as well as contribute to the fight against climate change.”

The new trees have been planted in place of the much-loved Sycamore tree, which once stood proudly on the Arboretum. During the prime of its life, the Sycamore tree was an eye-catching tree that held a special place in the landscape of Anglesey Abbey and was annually celebrated during the Winter Lights nature trail.

Two images of the sycamore tree at Anglesey Abbey in its prime and towards the end of its life — The Sycamore tree at Anglesey Abbey in its prime and towards the end of its life | © Kevin Tookey, Issy Vetoshkina

The decline of the Sycamore tree was caused by an unpreventable fungal disease called ‘Sooty Bark Disease’, which spread upward from the base of the tree.

Following the hot summers of 2019 and 2022, which rapidly sped up the tree’s decline, the tree was felled last year to remove the risk of dead tree branches falling and the windborne fungus spores spreading to neighbouring trees.

Having said farewell to the Sycamore tree, visitors, staff and volunteers can now watch the three new trees grow and thrive in its place.

According to David Jordan, Senior Gardener at Anglesey Abbey, the new trees have been chosen to increase site biodiversity, and the Bee tree in particular is “future-proof”, able to withstand and grow well during dry spells of weather.

“Lime trees tend to take well to the soil at Anglesey Abbey, so the Mongolian Lime tree was a natural choice, selected to add some variety to the gardens and the Black Walnut tree was suggested by Richard Ayres himself.”

A small area of lawn has been planted up with evergreens and surrounded by bark chipping. Tall towering trees in the background and a vehicle with more bark chipping parked nearby. — Planting a new landscaped garden area on the Pinetum | © Issy Vetoshkina

Kevin Tookey continued, “The Ayres family span three generations of gardeners here at Anglesey Abbey, so it was a delight to welcome Richard back to Anglesey Abbey this week.”

The current garden team have a wealth of experience and many years between them, with Senior Gardener David Jordan soon to enter his 28th year at Anglesey Abbey and Gardener Robert Green in his 45th year.

The team have also been busy planting up a new area on the Pinetum full of junipers, conifers and some dwarf evergreens, that will delight visitors upon arrival to Anglesey Abbey. The team have just embedded a few thousand crocus bulbs in the car park and are continuing to improve the planting scheme along Olympian Way too.

Visitors can see the newly planted trees and landscaped garden area during winter opening hours at Anglesey Abbey, from 9.30am to 4pm daily.