Tree Walk

In August 2007 we were lucky to have Steven Falk of the Warwickshire Museum return for another evening among these huge trees which so enrich the panorama through the year. From bare wintry branches drooping earthwards or those long dark fingers reaching to the skies, early spring blossom to full summer leaf and finaly the glory of autumn with blazing colour changing almost daily.

There are a staggering 54 varieties of tree in Abbey Fields with all the broad leafed English varieties and many others from the New World and Asia.

There is insufficient space to detail all that we saw but better rather to put a marker down for readers to follow up as they wander around. Go into the churchyard and look closely at the towering pines, pick out the differences by leaf, bark and the way the branches hang. At first sight all the trees look very similar but closer inspection will reveal that they are different.

Our walk continued down the avenue of common limes leading to the church across the footbridge close to Bridge Street. There are willows which will colonise rapidly if left to do so. Then up the hill towards the War Memorial where a number of specimen trees can be seen including an Indian Bean tree. The range of trees makes Abbey Fields almost unique in Warwickshire and the Midlands. They provide the visitor with a lasting reminder of the Fields, to the town an enduring backdrop. Abbey Fields provides protection for many trees whilst at the same time preventing over-planting. A balance has been achieved which nature and time only will change and then after due process by all the authorities concerned.

Our thanks again to Steven Falk for his most interesting "Walk 'n Talk" - we hope that he will come again for another evening among the giants of Abbey Fields.

Steven Falk agreed to help us put together a pamphlet on Trees of Abbey Fields which is at the printers now.

A local resident, Richard Johnston, is also very interested in Trees on Abbey Fields and has been doing his own research since his retirement and has allowed us to include this on our website which we are hoping to do shortly.