Bloomer's Valley

The wide sweep of Bloomer's Valley is an unexpected and pleasant contrast to the wooded slopes around it. It was planted with crops until the 1960s, but now the valley's floor is maintained as a swathe of mowed open grassland.

The trees here are mainly from the Mediterranean and Irano-turanian regions. The landscaping uses the contrast of tall specimen trees against the green open expanse of the valley - an arrangement that has been described as like a cathedral and its piazza.

The cedars in Bloomer's Valley are used as landscape statements. From these, and from others in the Pinetum, it is interesting to see the relationships and differences between the four species in the genus Cedrus. These are deodars from Afghanistan and Pakistan; Atlas cedars from north Africa; cedars of Lebanon from Lebanon and Turkey; and Cedrus brevifolia from Cyprus. Showing the great age some of these trees reach, cedars of Lebanon do not produce cones until they are between 40 and 100 years old.

Bloomer's Valley is most often viewed from one end or the other - when emerging from Horsebridge Wood or from the spectacular viewpoint high above the Valley in Coates Wood. However, exploration around the fringes, rather than a steady walk through the valley, is very rewarding as there are some interesting groups of trees here.

For instance, on its northern side, there's a rare porcupine fir (Abies pinsapo var. tazoatana) from northern Morocco. It was discovered by a Spanish forester working high up on the isolated Massif of Tazoat, who recognised it as one growing naturally in Spain. It is a close relative of the Moroccan fir from the Rif mountains and the Spanish fir from southern Spain.

Or, up on its southern slope below the Rock Walk, there is a collection of rare British native trees in the genus Sorbus. Some of the 15 species are familiar whitebeam, rowan and wild service trees, but among them is the Bristol mountain ash, rare in its native Avon Gorge. The rare Plymouth pear (Pyrus cordata), is found in very few places in Devon and Cornwall, but is being conserved at Kew in the grounds of Queen Charlotte's Cottage, and has also been planted in a group by the Millennium Seed Bank.

Continue the tour

Back up to: Woodland Zone

Carry on to: Horsebridge Wood