Fetcham Tree Trail

At just 175 years, this Oak is still quite young. The oldest in the UK are 800 – 1000 years old.

This tree is on the edge of land that belonged to Fetcham Cottage built 270 years ago and may have been planted as a boundary tree.

This tree was planted, but when found in the wild it is an indicator of ancient woodland.

The berries are edible once they have become softened or “bletted” by frost.

A native of North-East America and is often planted as a street tree.

Beautiful spreading tree, looks spectacular in the spring.

Conkers make the Horse Chestnut tree popular with children!

Horse Chestnut is an introduced species that has spread naturally.

Willows love growing in the Fetcham Springs area as it is damp.

These trees were planted under a FRA scheme several years ago.

These trees were planted under a FRA scheme several years ago. Look out for the lovely autumn colours.

These two trees were planted as memorial trees.

Its distinctive green-brown bark peels off in flakes allowing it to shed pollution, making it an ideal street tree.

Nearly all Surrey farms used to grow apples to make cider for their workers, but few local orchards remain.

The winged seeds, or “helicopters”, are almost parallel to each other and spin as they fall from the tree.

Sycamores provide food for aphids which are a good source of food for house martins.

It was planted beside houses as a protection against witches. Lookout for flocks of waxwings enjoying the berries during cold snaps in winter.

The only British bird that is able to crack open the seeds is the Hawfinch.

Grey poplars are a hybrid between White Poplar and Aspen and grow impressively large.

Hawthorn is the harbinger of summer and is also known as the May tree.

Ancient hedges, usually containing hawthorn as a stock barrier, are often the oldest man-made thing in use.

There are lots of limes in the churchyard. “Linde” is the Anglo-Saxon name for lime which is preserved in many place names such as Lyndhurt and Linwood, both in the New Forest.

Often planted in avenues leading to big houses and is common in streets and parks.

Silver birch provides food and habitat for more than 300 insect species – the leaves attracting aphids which provide food for ladybirds and other species further up the food chain.

Often found in churchyards, sometimes dating from the pre-Christian era when they were associated with pagan places of worship.

Beech is known as the “lover’s tree” because of the “notebook” bark.

When the leaves flutter in the breeze the undersides catch the sunlight.

There are 3 different species of cedar; the Atlas tree has ascending branches.

It is in the pea family and bears typical pea-like flowers.

Ash leaves are some of the latest to open in the spring and the earliest to fall in the autumn, often while they are still green.

In the past Ash trees were coppiced – by cutting them down to the base they produce multiple stems that were used as hop poles.

Birds, and mammals such as mice and squirrels, enjoy the yellow/pink/red fruit.

“Loveliest of tree, the cherry now is hung with bloom along the bough”

Nuts were an important source of protein until the 20th century and in Surrey, September 14th was traditionally the day for the harvest.

During the winter Common Alder seeds are a favourite food for visiting and resident Siskins and Lesser Redpolls.