The Wood Street Plane Tree

This famous tree, which stands at the left-hand entrance to Wood Street from Cheapside, marks the site of St. Peter in Chepe, a church which was destroyed by the Great Fire (1666). The terms of the leases of the houses at the west-end corner are said to forbid the erection of another storey or the removal of the tree. This tree is in a healthy condition, as is evidenced by the growths which have been made since it was pollarded about three years ago. It is gratifying to know that this pruning was, unlike much of such work in London, carried out in a practical and sensible fashion, and has interfered but little with the original appearance of the tree. The smooth, well-rounded stem rises for 30 ft. without a branch, the diameter being about a yard through at breast high. As late as 1845 rooks built their nests in this tree.

The Plane In Stationers' Court

This is a magnificent specimen, though growing in a very cramped and confined position, the branches on all sides nearly touching the surrounding buildings. The tree is in excellent health. It has a large, well-formed stem, but unfortunately, owing to "snag-pruning," the outline has been rendered somewhat unsightly. This Plane Tree, which grows in the Court of Stationers' Hall, Lud-gate Hill, is much prized by the residents around.

The Dean's Court Plane Trees

Though growing in a very confined and dusty position, these two Plane trees have attained to a height of fully 60 ft., and are healthy and well developed.

In Star Yard, by the Law Courts, there is a large and well developed Plane tree, which is growing in so cramped a position that it has hardly room for perfect development of either root or branch. In Amen Court there is also a large Plane tree growing contiguous to lofty buildings. Taking everything into consideration, I doubt whether any other forest tree is of equal value with the Plane for town planting.

The Ailanthus or Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandulosa)

The Ailanthus or Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandulosa) flourishes in many a London street; indeed, next to the Plane, it is, perhaps, the most commonly cultivated tree both in urban and suburban districts of the metropolis. By reason of its rich green, spreading foliage, the Ailanthus is a great favourite, the leaves in many cases reaching to a length of fully 2 ft. This tree has been planted largely in many Continental cities. In some of the most smoke-infested parts of London, as in the Lambeth Borough Recreation Ground, and throughout the East End, the Ailanthus does remarkably well, and grows with a vigour that is excelled by no other species; while the noble specimens in Bloomsbury and other public squares testify to its capacity for withstanding the impurities of a town atmosphere. The greenish-white inconspicuous flowers are freely produced, and are succeeded by innumerable fruits resembling the keys of the Ash, but of a reddish-brown colour, which impart to the tree a hue that, unfortunately, is seldom seen in this country.