The Jephson Gardens contain a wonderful collection of trees, one of the best nationally in a public park of this size. This is the work of the many people who chose what to plant and who have then maintained the planting. Those decisions were made by individuals and are largely undocumented. The people concerned knew what they were doing, at least for the most part At some periods there was clearly a botanical approach - a desire to assemble a broad collection, with many species represented by just one example. Splendid one-upmanship!
The collection consists of about 170 different trees. (It is difficult to be precise because the boundary between a tree and a shrub is debatable and also because some trees have many different ornamental forms). This is only a fraction of the thousands of trees that are hardy in our climate. Even so, the principal types of broadleaf tree commonly found across the British Isles are well represented. The collection of conifers is less wide but still impressive. There are one or two obvious absentees like the Giant Redwood.
Much of the planting is mature. Some is over-mature. A number of trees are far too close together. This problem is often found in public spaces where felling is difficult to achieve. In my view some thinning is essential in order to enable trees to give of their best and to open up views.
These walks have two purposes. The first is botanical - to document what we have in the Gardens. That might appear straightforward but previous plans of identification have been incomplete and occasionally wrong.The second purpose is to share this heritage in an accessible way, to enable visitors to appreciate the quality and variety of the tree collection. Not everyone will want full detail or anything like it, but detail is there for the keen observer.
The walks cover almost all the tree species in the gardens. They do not, however, attempt to cover the numerous varieties of Cherry, Crab Apple, Holly, Rowan and Lawson Cypress, many of which remain to be identified precisely. An inclusive approach means that the walks include both impressive and also some unimpressive specimens. In order to keep things simple no attempt has been made to indicate all the multiple plantings of the same species, for example Holm Oak, Copper Beech and Yew.
I am very grateful to Steven Falk, Senior Keeper of Natural History at the Warwickshire Museum, a real expert and enthusiast who has led the way on identification. Many of the descriptions draw on Collins Tree Guide and the Hillier Manual of Trees and Shrubs, both of which are indispensable publications.
One thing is certain. These walks will have left out some important things and got others wrong. All comments and corrections will be gratefully received. In the meantime, enjoy the trees.
David Howells
June 2007.