There are more than 7,000 trees in Alexandra Park and our resident expert, Stephen Middleton from The Friends of Alexandra Park is introducing us to some of his favourites…

The famous 17th century herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper, recommended the bark and leaves of our August Tree of the Month for making an infusion to “strengthen the liver”. We do not endorse this idea.

The tree is our only native maple and can be found by the Bedford Road entrance just as you come into the park on the left hand side. The Field Maple (Acer campestre) is the tree in the grass closest to the hut.

What is a “native” tree? This is defined as a tree that reached this country before the landbridge with the European mainland was flooded about 9,000 years ago – the first Brexit. 

The tree of the month is also native to a part of the near East as well as most of Europe with the exception of Scandinavia.

Like all maples, this tree sports leaves in opposite pairs. The leaves are palmate (like a hand) with all veins spreading out from the leaf stalk. Each leaf usually has five rounded lobes. The leaves, which are smaller than most other maples, produce a milky sap. They come into their own in autumn when they turn an attractive golden yellow.

In April, the field maple produces small yellow-green flowers which when pollinated will transform into winged seeds called samaras that are visible on the tree at this time of year. These “helicopters” have horizontal wings unlike the related sycamore where the wings curve downwards. In autumn, it is a pleasant sight to see these winged seeds spiraling down to the ground.

Our tree of the month doesn’t always produce many seedlings, but they can often be found in the woodland just below the south slope.

The field maple is usually quite a small tree, but the largest examples in the country reach 25 metres in height.

The wood of this tree is sometimes used for fine furniture work or for making parts of musical instruments including violins and guitars.

The tree is commonly a component of hedges as it responds well to being trimmed. It has been used in the mixed hedge opposite the Park Visitor Centre in the Grove.