(9) London Plane
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Sydney Gardens is the custodian of several large London Plane trees, the tallest of which can be found after leaving the Beech tree and following the gradually slopping path back down into the park. This Plane tree is positioned just before the ornate bridge over the Kennett and Avon Canal; dated 1800 and built by Stothert and Pitt, a well-known engineering company in Bath.
There are also two stone bridges over the canal, both of which are adorned with stone carvings representing the two main rivers of the south of England one is Sabrina: Goddess of the River Severn and the other a carving of Old Father Thames.
This Plane, standing a magnificent 28m tall is thought to have been planted in 1777, before Sydney Gardens was established in 1795. The tallest London Plane in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland stands at 49.67m high: measured in May 2015 and can be found in Bryanston School grounds in Blandford Forum, Dorset.
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The London Plane is a large deciduous tree, a hybrid of the American sycamore and the Oriental Plane tree. The Plane arrived in England between 1660 - 1680, is fast growing when young; some trees recorded growing 20m in 50 years, with a life span over 330 years. The tree is well suited to towns and cities due to its resistance to pollution; dirt easily washing off its shiny thick and leathery leaves. The leaf shape is formed of five triangular lobes, they are green throughout the spring and summer then turn a rich yellow/orange in Autumn before falling.
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The bark of the Plane is olive green to grey in colour which is shed in large thin plates in mid-summer to reveal a creamy colour bark beneath. The young twigs are green, brown in colour before they mature
The London Plane is monoecious; with both male and female flowers on the same tree but not found growing on the same stems. After pollination the wind-pollinated female flowers develop into spiky fruit with stiff hairs which are retained over the winter gradually breaking up to release their numerus, 2-3mm long seeds.
The London Plane is monoecious; with both male and female flowers on the same tree but not found growing on the same stems. After pollination the wind-pollinated female flowers develop into spiky fruit with stiff hairs which are retained over the winter gradually breaking up to release their numerus, 2-3mm long seeds.
Reference
Gazzard, G. A. MSc (2021) wrote the above article with information from the following sources.
Rose, B. BSc (Hons) MSc DipArb(RFS) MICFor RCArborA Chartered Arboriculturist Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant (2020). Bosky Trees, Arboricultural Impact Assessment & Tree Protection Plan for trees at Sydney Gardens, Bath. (Accessed 13/03/21).
White, R. S. PhD (2020). Sydney Gardens: a self-guided walking tour reflecting on botany, empire, reluctant heritage and deep time. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://medium.com/sydney-gardens-bath/sydney-gardens-a-reluctant-heritage-a-walking-tour-reflecting-on-botany-empire-and-deep-time-789d71c0c288
The Woodland Trust, London Plane. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/london-plane/
Monumental Trees. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/gbr/england/dorset/4140_bryanstonschool/8378/
Wikipedia: Platanus x hispanica. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus_×_acerifolia
Bubber, G. (2018). The Mysterious History of the London Plane Tree. Tree's for Cities. (Accessed 01/04/2021). Available at:
https://www.treesforcities.org/stories/the-mysterious-story-of-the-london-plane-tree
Hull, R. (2009). Short Guide to the London Plane Tree. (Accessed 01/04/2021) Available at:
https://www.treetree.co.uk/treetree_downloads/The_London_Plane.pdf
Gazzard, G. A. MSc (2021) wrote the above article with information from the following sources.
Rose, B. BSc (Hons) MSc DipArb(RFS) MICFor RCArborA Chartered Arboriculturist Arboricultural Association Registered Consultant (2020). Bosky Trees, Arboricultural Impact Assessment & Tree Protection Plan for trees at Sydney Gardens, Bath. (Accessed 13/03/21).
White, R. S. PhD (2020). Sydney Gardens: a self-guided walking tour reflecting on botany, empire, reluctant heritage and deep time. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://medium.com/sydney-gardens-bath/sydney-gardens-a-reluctant-heritage-a-walking-tour-reflecting-on-botany-empire-and-deep-time-789d71c0c288
The Woodland Trust, London Plane. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/london-plane/
Monumental Trees. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/gbr/england/dorset/4140_bryanstonschool/8378/
Wikipedia: Platanus x hispanica. (Accessed 13/03/13). Available at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platanus_×_acerifolia
Bubber, G. (2018). The Mysterious History of the London Plane Tree. Tree's for Cities. (Accessed 01/04/2021). Available at:
https://www.treesforcities.org/stories/the-mysterious-story-of-the-london-plane-tree
Hull, R. (2009). Short Guide to the London Plane Tree. (Accessed 01/04/2021) Available at:
https://www.treetree.co.uk/treetree_downloads/The_London_Plane.pdf