Heritage Trees

"The Old Lions"

1762

“The Old Lions” are some of the few remaining trees with the oldest actual known planting date of 1762. They comprise: Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree), Sophora japonica (Pagoda Tree), and Platanus orientalis (Oriental Plane) to the West of the Princess of Wales Conservatory; Robinia pseudoacacia (False Acacia) on the lawn to the front of the Orangery; and the Zelkova carpinifolia situated in the Herbarium paddock.

Some of these trees were brought from a neighbouring estate at Whitton which belonged to the Duke of Argyll (the uncle of Lord Bute the botanical advisor to Princess Augusta). They became part of a new 5 acre arboretum, laid out by William Aiton, which sat next to the Orangery.

The Old Lions

Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo biloba

False Acacia, Robinia pseudoacacia

Oriental Plane, Platanus orientalis

Zelkova carpinifolia

Pagoda Tree, Sophora japonica

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Heritage trees