IN THE GARDEN
I t’s hard to imagine a world without trees. Many of us will have a favourite tree, whether it’s a flowering cherry we pass daily on the street, or a tree that brings back happy memories of a relative or a favourite holiday. Here at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, we have approximately 2,000 trees ranging from saplings of only two or three years of age to mighty giants of more than 170 years, such as our giant redwoods ( Sequoiadendron giganteum ). The value of trees reaches far beyond their aesthetic or sentimental value. Trees also have economic value, with oaks being highly valued for their use in construction, while others produce edible fruits, such as the native hazel or cobnut ( Corylus avellana ) and exotic species like the fig ( Ficus carica ) and orange ( Citrus x sinensis ). Beyond this, trees add so much more value to our lives and the environment. They absorb carbon dioxide, which helps slow global warming; they stabilise soils; they improve water quality and reduce the risk of flooding; they provide shade and act as coolants; they reduce noise; and they support biodiversity. It’s estimated that a single oak tree can support 2,300 species of insects, birds, mammals, fungi, lichens, liverworts and mosses. As the old adage goes, ‘the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the second best time is now’
LOOKING WOOD The fruiting Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’, or corkscrew hazel (top), Cornus ‘Eddie’s White Wonder’ (middle) and Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ (bottom) offer varying colour and interest
80 NOVEMBER 2026 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
Powered by FlippingBook