Parks, leisure and the arts Trees

Rare trees in parks

Our city's parks are home to many types of trees. They range from native species to unusual and rare specimens.

The Royal Horticultural Society funded a survey of the trees in our parks. And Dr Owen Johnson (author of the Collins Tree Guide) carried out the survey. It named these trees of special interest.

Alexandra Park

  • Variegated American Green Ash – a very rare tree planted at the turn of the 20th century. And a potential champion tree.
  • Railway Poplar – one of the biggest in England. They were often planted along railways in Victorian England.

Fletcher Moss Botanical Gardens

  • Adam's Laburnum – a designated champion tree in The Tree Register for the British Isles. This is a hybrid species of the Laburnum tree and the flowering Broom shrub. Its branches of flowers can be yellow, purple or mixed.
  • Amur Cork – this rare Chinese tree is a glorious specimen standing at 55 feet high. This species is often thought to only grow well in southern England.
  • Silver Birch 'Golden Cloud' – this is a very rare tree known for its lovely golden leaves.

Fog Lane Park

  • Aspen Poplars – these are some of the tallest in England.
  • Crimean Silver Lime – these huge specimens are of national importance.
  • Northern Catalpa – this is a rare species from the southern states of America. They have large leaves and beautiful white flowers in the summer.
  • Scotch Laburnum – this is one of the tallest in England.

Heaton Park

  • Eucalyptus – this tree might be the biggest of its species.

Manchester’s parks also have rare species of Hawthorn trees of national importance.

Visit our city’s parks and explore the huge variety of trees they home. It’s free and a great way to get outdoors. Find out how to visit our parks.

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