Trees
The park contains over a hundred different species of trees, some of which we believe date from when the park was first laid out in 1926 and includes some unusual and rare trees both native and from around the world. Our trees support a huge variety of wildlife including birds, insects, moths, fungi and lichens. There’s something to explore year-round, from bark textures in winter, spring blossom, summer leaf shapes and seeds and of course, the amazing oranges and reds of autumn leaves. Read more below about each of the different tree species we have in the park and where you can find them.
Babylon weeping willow
Salix babylonica
This majestic weeping willow can be found southwest of the old bowling greens. The twisted trunk and distinctive drooping and trailing branches give it an attractive ornamental shape – albeit reminiscent of the whomping willow in the Harry Potter series. Did you know that willow bark has a long history of use as an anti-inflammatory and for pain relief?
London Plane
Platanus x hispanica
Our London plane trees are so large they must surely have been some of the original trees planted back in 1926. There’s a group of them around the western Parkville Road entrance and an avenue along the main path across the park. A hybrid of American sycamore, they became popular city trees due to their tolerance to pollution. Their signature attribute is the way the bark peels in patches.
Manchester Poplars
Populus nigra betulifolia
The boardwalk near the ponds weaves its way through a group of nationally rare Manchester poplars. They are most noticeable in late summer when large balls of fluffy cotton like seeds fall and blanket the ground. This species of black poplar was named from its link to Manchester’s industrial past due its tolerance of smoky conditions and a large number were planted to soak up air pollution in the 1930s as part of an unemployment relief scheme across the city.
Silver Birch
Betula pendula
Silver birch trees are dotted around the park with a cluster near the Corinthians mural and a number planted along the Parrs Wood Road boundary. They are one of the easiest trees to identify in winter from their distinctive silvery white papery bark that develops diamond shaped fissures in older trees. This native tree is sometimes used as a symbol of renewal and purity.
Pedunculate (English) Oak
Quercus robur
The pendunculate, or English oak is a true legend. Long living with a large crown it supports a huge and diverse ecosystem – according to the Woodland Trust more than any other native tree species. The main concentration of these trees in the park is near the bird hide so look out for the distinctive lobed leaves and of course, acorns – squirrels love them!
Coast redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
The group of coast redwoods near the Old Broadway entrance provide a splash of colour even in winter - the species name "sempervirens" means "evergreen". They are related to giant redwoods and can grow to 110m tall in their native NW America, but fortunately for us only grow to around 40m in the UK. Look out for their elegant conical shape, soft red bark and small cones.
Witch hazel
Hamamelis sp
Our witch hazel tree is small but beautifully formed. Located by the raised beds near the pond, the yellow winter flowers are stunning to look at close up with their unusual spidery shape.
These trees have no link to witchcraft but the name is derived from the old English word wice, meaning pliant or bendable and they have a long history of use in medicine for skin complaints.
Hornbeam
Carpinus betulus
For stunning autumn colours head over to the Parkville Road side of the park and see our fabulous hornbeams that reach out over the path. Part of the same family as birch trees, hornbeams are long living with a hard wood traditionally used for chopping boards and cog wheels.
Hornbeams can be distinguished from the common beech trees also in this row by their twisted gnarly trunks and bark with silver grey bark vertical lines. You’ll need to look closely to tell the leaves apart though – they are very similar in shape but the hornbeam’s leaves are doubly serrated whilst the beech leaves have smooth wavey edges.
Cherry
Prunus sp
There are around 100 cherry trees of over ten different species in Fog Lane Park. The best time to see them is in spring, when the blossom is in full bloom and whilst they can be found all over the park, the Serpentine walk is the best place to start. We have native wild cherry trees, cherry plum trees and a number of different ornamental Japanese cherry trees so there’s a variety of colours and blossom structures to see along the way.
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris
Native to the Scottish Highlands (the clue was in the name), the main concentration of Scots Pine is around the old bandstand in the north western corner of the park. An evergreen tree with long twisted needles, Scots Pines have a distinctive shape and can usually be found with pine cones of different seasons on the same tree.
Lombardy Poplar
Populus nigra 'Italica'
Tall thin architectural trees traditionally used as a windbreak or visual screen, these were presumably originally planted along the whole western edge of the park. What’s left is a striking row just to the north of the Old Broadway entrance, although if you look closely there are also a number further south too. Note the Latin name – despite being a completely different shape these are closely related to the rare Manchester poplars on the other side of the park.
Giant Redwood
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Yes, you read that right – we have giant redwoods in Fog Lane Park! An ancient species, known to survive for hundreds of years and grow to enormous proportions in its native north America, giant redwoods are iconic trees for very good reasons. Don’t get too excited though, our specimens are babies by comparison in size and age. Look in the grass opposite Old Broadway entrance – you don’t need to look up as it’s only about 3m tall and has some serious growing to do - hang around for a couple of centuries and you’ll see it at its full height.
White willow
Salix alba
The easiest of our white willows to spot is this one standing alone between the tennis courts and the playground. It’s easy to see how it got its name with long thin leaves that have hairs that appear silvery-white. This native tree supports caterpillars of a number of moth species that feed on the white willow leaves.
Ornamental acers
Acer sp.
There are a number of ornamental acers across the park, often distinguished by their relatively small size and brightly coloured leaves which can range from yellow greens to deep reds. Related to sycamores and field maples, our Norway and Freeman maples add some great colours to the park.
Red oak
Quercus rubra
The most obvious of our red oaks is the venerable one on the Serpentine Walk that has been heavily pollarded (and OK it also has a label on it). Pollarding is a woodland management technique to reduce the size of the crown to make the tree less top heavy – it can look brutal but can be essential to keep it living longer. Non-native, it has large leaves that are more pointed than English Oak and which turn a striking red colour in autumn.
Dawn redwood
Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Try to wrap your tongue around the latin name of our dawn redwood found on the Serpentine walk. This conifer was thought to be extinct, but after being rediscovered in China in 1941, was introduced to Britain in 1948 and planted in parks and gardens, but remains rare worldwide. Notice that this particular conifer is deciduous and look closely at its red “stringy” bark.
Tiger Wood
Not so much a type of tree, but a unique area of the park made up of trees. Tiger Wood is a copse of trees first planted in 2009, with silver birch, blackthorn, rowan trees, dogwood, a variety of other trees and bushes and native plants and flowers. Go into it via one of the trails and feel transported far away from urban living into a haven of woodland and wildlife.