Tree Circuit
Discover Norbury Park's trees
Norbury Park is home to a wide variety of beautiful trees, most of which were planted after the war. The Tree Circuit allows you to move around the park whilst learning about the different trees. Start at the gate next to Harefield Road and make a circuit of the park in an anti-clockwise direction, and use our photos and what.3.words locations below to try and identify as many trees as you can. Press on an image to learn more about that tree.
If you stand with your back to Harefield Road you will see a row of Hornbeams along the path.
Look to your right and there is a beautiful Common Ash. Luckily it has not been affected by the ash dieback that is sweeping across the country.
Next to the ash is a Field Maple, which has stunning rich gold leaves in the autumn.
In the same area is a lovely cluster of Horse Chestnut trees. These produce shiny conkers in the autumn, hidden away in spiky green pods.
Turn the corner so that Norbury Brook is on your right and you’ll see a row of trees of all different species. The picture shows the seeds that form on an ash tree at the end of summer. If you plant the seeds, you may be lucky enough to grow a new ash tree!
Further along you will find another Horse Chestnut. This picture shows the sticky buds that this tree produces, and the scars that are left by old buds look just like horseshoes!
This is a Norway Maple, which is a tree that caterpillars love. The birds and squirrels feast on the seeds.
This tall narrow tree is a magnificent Lombardy Poplar, also called Italian Poplar
This photo shows the distinctive bark of the ash tree.
When you arrive at the entrance next to the basketball court you can look along the avenue all the way to the other end of the park. The avenue is lined with London Plane trees, which is the most common tree found in London.
As you walk on the grass parallel to Norbury Avenue on your right, you’ll see the first of the magnificent Willow trees that are in the park. Although a bit scruffy in winter, they produce catkins which are loved by pollinators.
As you get towards the allotments there is a huge Sycamore, a source of food and shelter for wildlife including aphids that leave behind their tacky honeydew
Maybe because it’s near the Scot’s Estate but here is a stunning Scots Pine.
The huge willow that is in the corner of the park near the allotments is a popular meeting place. This photo shows it’s gorgeous golden stems and buds.
We are now in the corner of the park closest to the Norbury High School, and here is another pine - this time an Austrian Pine.
Just before you arrive at the Norbury Hill entrance to the park, on your right you will see a cluster of trees, and the photo shows another Austrian pine and an Oak
As you walk back towards Harefield Road, you’ll pass another lovely Willow
The last tree on your circuit is another glorious oak tree.
