Meet Bristol’s remarkable trees

The 200 largest, oldest and rarest trees in Bristol

The city of Bristol is an arboretum of some 200 tree species within the public realm with many more in private gardens. Few people appreciate or value this vast heritage. This list of some 200 trees that we believe are the most significant will, we hope, stimulate interest and understanding. This work is the result of twenty years of Richard Bland tramping the city’s open spaces, identifying and measuring, following the example of Alan Mitchell whose field guide remains the most useful tree book of all. Ages are, in most cases, approximate.

If you want to measure a tree yourself, this is how it is done.

To estimate the age of a tree, try this tool.

The eight-figure ST Grid References should enable each tree to be found individually. For example, on the web, go to UK Grid Reference Finder and enter the ST reference, and a map of the site comes up. Alternatively, you can see details and tree locations at Trees of Bristol.

This list has three parts:

Section 1 is a list of some 50 veteran trees that are in the public realm with a girth greater than 500 cm. the largest and oldest of their kind. As trees grow at different rates some of these trees are only 150 years old, others may be 700. It is ranked by the girth of each tree. Multi-trunk trees are not included. All these trees are precious, and need to be valued and respected.

Section 2 lists the largest, and hence oldest, trees of around 120 other species in the public realm, organised by their English name. It is far from complete, and we welcome new examples.

Section 3 is in alphabetical order, and lists around 30 unusual and interesting specimens, often with multiple trunks, that have great fascination.

With acknowledgements and thanks to the Friends of St Andrews Park tree survey, we have also produced a map of the trees growing in St Andrews Park, BS6.

If you have any comments or corrections or if would like to suggest another remarkable tree as a candidate to join this list, please use the comment form below or email us at contact@bristoltreeforum.org.