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    Majesty

    Majesty
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    Oak

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  • Trees

    Pine

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  • Trees

    Autumn

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  • Trees

    Solidity

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  • Trees

    Cathedral

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  • Trees

    Shapes

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  • Trees

    Cherry

    Cherry

  • Trees

    Amongst

    Amongst

  • Trees

    Colour

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  • Trees

    Habitat

    Habitat

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    Hawthorn

    Hawthorn

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    Landscape

    Landscape

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    Majesty

    Majesty
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Trees

Peoples Favourite Trees Favourite tree map Somerset tree strategy Get involved

Trees affect the lives of all of us, even though we may not always appreciate that. They are vital in dealing with climate change, they provide interest and enjoyment to the landscape around us, they provide food and habitat for animals and insects.

Team Tree has been formed by Transition Town Wellington. The aim is two-fold. Firstly to encourage us all to notice and appreciate the trees all around us; and secondly to identify trees that we consider to be of particular value. We want to encourage the residents of Wellington to nominate trees that they feel are special. It might be the shape, the value it brings to a particular location or view, or a tree that has evokes special memories, or one that has spectacular blossom. These trees will then be photographed, recorded and if felt appropriate an application will be made to the council for a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Please fill in the form at the bottom of this page.

People’s Favourite Trees

  • Copper beech
  • Oak tree
  • Oak tree
  • Wellingtonia
  • Oak tree
  • Oak tree
  • Oak tree
  • Oak tree
  • Pine tree
  • Oak tree
  • Wellingtonia
  • Acer Crimson King
  • Hornbeam
  • Oak tree
  • Cherry tree
  • Hornbeam
  • Oak Tree
  • Oak Tree
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Many trees are so big that you can see them from space! Modern technology has allowed us to see every almost square metre of the globe. You can find each of the nominated trees listed here. Just click on the map button provided for each of the nominated trees to be taken to the tree’s location. We recommend that you then switch to ‘satellite view’ and then zoom out a little to see where you are.

Nominate your tree

Favourite tree map & Walks

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Tree map with walks
1

Anita Roy’s Copper Beech

2

A notable Sweet Chestnut

3

A notable Lime

4

Lucy’s Hawthorn

5

Simon Parkin’s Oak

6

Nigel’s Beech

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Addy’s Lucombe Oak

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Fiona’s Oak

9

Helen’s Oak

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Helen’s Acer Crimson King

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Jackie Witt’s Pine

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A notable Plane

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Anita Roy’s Oak

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Olly’s Alder

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Olly’s Oak

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John’s Honey Locust

17

Lindy’s Hornbeams

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Jules’ Cherry

19

Jules’ Liquidamber

20

Valerie’s Oak

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Reg’s Oak

22

Sue’s Yew

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Sue’s Birch

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Sue’s Cherry

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A notable Oak 3

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A notable Turkey Oak

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Simon Parkin’s Oak 2

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Charles’ Oak

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Simon P (needs nominating)

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Simon P (Needs nominating)

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A notable Oak

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Simon P Cedar

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Simon P Cherry

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Simon P Pin Oak

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Helen’s Scots pines

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Harriet’s Wellingtonia

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Anita’s Cherry

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Notable Oak

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Notable Oak

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Harriet’s Scots Pine

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A notable Silver Birch

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Diana’s Wellingtonia

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Paula’s Oak

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Harry’s Magnolia

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Ben’s Copper Beech

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46 Greg’s Silver Lime

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47 Rogers Ash

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48 Simon Honey Locust

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49 Odile’s Oak

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50 Notable Alder

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51 Brigette’s Oak

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52 Simon P Oak

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53 Simon P Eucalyptus

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54 Simon P Acer

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Martine’s Linden

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Flip’s Oak

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Flip’s Wellingtonia

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Flip’s Evergreen Oak

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Joan’s Oak

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Notable Wellingtonia

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Simon’s Beech

Please note

If you are looking at this page on a small screen such as a mobile phone in portrait mode, please turn it round to landscape mode to see the tree map. You may also have to zoom in a bit

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Simon Parkin’s Oak

    Oak Tree
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5 – Simon Parkin’s Oak – “In the long hot days of the first lockdown, I wandered around Wellington on my allotted daily walk and suddenly noticed the trees. Everywhere! I looked up in wonder at these giants living among us. My favourite is an old oak that grows just down the road from me. My son and I measured the circumference of the trunk to try and guess how old it might be (anything rather than doing another Joe Wicks). It was about 2 metres, so maybe 80 years old – not much in oak years. I love how gnarled and contorted the tree is – looking like it’s straight out of a Brothers Grimm tale; its cavity large enough to climb into… or be swallowed up by!”

Map

  • Anita Roy’s Copper Beech

    Copper beech

  • Anita Roy’s Copper Beech

    Copper beech

  • Anita Roy’s Copper Beech

    Copper beech

  • Anita Roy’s Copper Beech

    Copper beech

  • Anita Roy’s Copper Beech

    Copper beech

  • Anita Roy’s Copper Beech

    Anita's Copper beech
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1 – Anita Roy’s Copper Beech – “The old copper beech overhangs High Path like a vast umbrella. In the autumn it has the distinctive maroon-red tints that give it its name. The tree must pre-date the houses along this stretch of road – and now it is almost twice the size of them. Every time I walk past I thank the people in whose garden it grows for allowing it to flourish, to grow on its own sweet, slow way – its roots rucking up the path, its leaves littering their lawn, its shade shading out the windows, with human life accommodating it rather than riding roughshod over it. It’s a beauty: it changes the skyline and connects us to the clouds.”

Map

  • Jackie Witt’s Pine

    Pine tree

  • Jackie Witt’s Pine

    Pine tree

  • Jackie Witt’s Pine

    Pine tree
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11 – Jackie Witt’s Pine – “Describing why a tree is special is such an interesting idea since sometimes this is not easy! And as I have discovered, people have sometimes deep and surprising reasons for being attached to certain trees – connected with their loved-ones for example. This tree is special to me mainly because I love pines and the uplifting, inspiring feeling that I get when I see or smell them. So straight, tall and upright – pointing directly to the sky. Perhaps I like being reminded of mountain pine forests and the fact that this tree is evergreen might have a lot to do with why I like it. I guess the short answer to why I like this tree is just because it makes me happy!”

Map

  • Anita Roy’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Anita Roy’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Anita Roy’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Anita Roy’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Anita Roy’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Anita Roy’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Anita Roy’s Oak

    Oak tree
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13 – Anita Roy’s Oak – “This beautiful old oak stands alone in a hay field next to Linden Drive. Every time I walk up from the Basins I give it a sort of friendly wave as I pass: it looks like an old soldier, standing sentinel, the last man standing, as it were, in a field of grass. The farmer’s tractor must have had to go around it every time the field is cut, and I feel immensely grateful that the machinery has woven its way around it. Oaks are at the top of the league table in terms of the numbers of wildlife and different species that they support: each mature oak supports an entire ecosystem around it. There must have been many a close shave over the decades, but it’s made it through, and I hope it stands there, proudly, for many many years to come.”

Aerial drone footage
Map

  • Flip’s Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia

  • Flip’s Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia

  • Flip’s Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia

  • Flip’s Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia

  • Flip’s Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia

  • Flip’s Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia

  • Flip’s Wellingtonia

    Flip's Wellingtonia
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57 – Flip’s Wellingtonia – “There is a Wellingtonia pine (Sequoiadendron giganteum – giant redwood) in the field between Foxdown Hill and Rockwell Green. It grows next to a huge oak tree (see below). These two trees have been there from before I was born. I moved away from Wellington to London many years ago, and I had almost forgotten about them. Then, moving back a few years ago, I realised how important these trees had been to me as a child. I used to refer to them as Laurel and Hardy because of their shapes. Although I had always seen them as part of the landscape it’s only recently that I have gone up and touched them. They are absolutely flipping huge! From a distance you don’t realise how big they’re going to be until you go up and try to put your arms around them. I think it would take at least five of me to go round. This giant tree is an important part of the landscape from so many angles. It is not the only one in the field, but it looks particularly tall and grand next to the oak. I would love to see it preserved for the future generations.”

Aerial drone footage
Map

  • Flip’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Flip’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Flip’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Flip’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Flip’s Oak

    Oak tree
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56 – Flip’s Oak tree – “The oak tree, like the giant redwood I have mentioned above, stands in the field between Foxdown Hill and Rockwell Green. The oak is perfectly formed and changes through the seasons from golden green in the spring through to dark green and then brown in the autumn as the leaves fall. The acorns are a magnet to the deer who gather underneath eating them. The beautiful oak alongside the elegant giant redwood make a perfect combination and one that has been painted by local artists and photographed by many. The oak provides a habitat for a lot of wildlife as well as providing the acorns for the deer. This lovely oak deserves to be preserved.”

Aerial drone footage
Map

  • Helen’s Crimson King

    Acer Crimson King

  • Helen’s Acer Crimson King

    Acer Crimson King

  • Helen’s Acer Crimson King

    Acer Crimson King

  • Helen’s Acer Crimson King

    Acer Crimson King

  • Helen’s Acer Crimson King

    Acer Crimson King

  • Helen’s Acer Crimson King

    Acer Crimson King

  • Helen’s Acer Crimson King

    Acer Crimson King

  • Helen’s Acer Crimson King

    Helen's Acer crimson king
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10 – Helen’s Acer crimson king – “This beautiful maple grows in a patch of grass owned by the council. Living on Springfield I’ve been walking past for many years, and mainly focusing on the area under the tree. Kate Holloway and TTW planted our first soft fruit patch there in 2015, with blackcurrants and gooseberries. Then, once I learnt about meadow management, I started raking up the grass cuttings every time the council team strimmed it to make it more suitable for wildflowers, and after some negotiation, finally got permission for TTW to turn it into a meadow. We’ve been raking, scything and sowing wildflower seeds there ever since, and now the area boasts a wide variety of wildflowers swaying with the long grass all summer, as well as a new herb bed.

But I must admit I never really ‘saw’ the tree until this spring: the blossom was absolutely stunning. A pale yellow flower with a hint of lime green, formed in clusters reaching for the sunlight and starting to bloom before the leaves come out, you might even mistake them for the new leaves themselves! But no; as the leaves emerge, a rich deep burgundy, they are in striking contrast to the blossom. I was struck by this trees subtle beauty, maybe not as showy as the white cherry blossom out at the same time, but just as beautiful when you get up close. In summer, the tree becomes much more solid and present with its dark shape contrasting with the green all around. This is a fine specimen – now I’ve noticed it I’ve seen the same species growing in towns and suburbs, but none are quite as handsome as this tree on Corams Lane. The Team Tree project has definitely encouraged me to ‘look up’ more and really appreciate the trees around me that I walk past every day.”

Map

  • Lindy’s Hornbeams

    Hornbeam

  • Lindy’s Hornbeams

    Hornbeam

  • Lindy’s Hornbeams

    Hornbeam

  • Lindy’s Hornbeams

    Hornbeam

  • Lindy’s Hornbeams

    Lindy's hornbeams
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17 – Lindy’s Hornbeams – “I love the two trees at the Station Rd, Victoria St, Courtland Rd crossroads. Their natural beauty help to offset the drab, austerity of the police station building and brighten up what would otherwise have been a very dull corner. They stand there like two firm, but friendly sentinels by the police station. Their sense of stability stabilises me. They give me a moment’s pleasure all year round, every time I pass.

Map

  • Fiona’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Fiona’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Fiona’s Oak

    Fiona's Oak

  • Fiona’s Oak

    Fiona's Oak

  • Fiona’s Oak

    Fiona's oak
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8 – Fiona’s Oak ‘Old Friend’ – “When I first moved to Wellington after my marriage broke down, I started walking down through the basins each morning and discovered a beautiful craggy old tree which hangs over the footpath there. At a time filled with uncertainty whilst I was starting a new life it felt like a constant reassuring presence. I felt drawn to it, inspired by both its size and its age. When I see it, I can’t help but wonder what the tree has witnessed over the centuries it has been stood sentry beside the path.”

Marcie’s added “I have loved this tree since I came to live in the town 52 years ago. It was always a favourite for my children and grandchildren with its smiley face. A place to play hide and seek and a perfect location to get tired children to run to see who could get to Mr OakTree first! It’s strong arms always protecting us”

Map

  • Jules’ Cherry

    Cherry tree

  • Jules’ Cherry

    Cherry tree

  • Jules’ Cherry

    Cherry tree

  • Jules’ Cherry

    Jules' cherry

  • Jules’ Cherry

    Jules' cherry

  • Jules’ Cherry

    Jules' cherry
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18 – Jules’ Cherry – This tree is divine – a bower of blossoms every Spring, under which we, myself and our daughter, have taken a photo every year. The perfume is glorious, the detail is spectacular – when we see this tree in bloom, we know that Spring has truly arrived! We love this tree!

Map

  • Joan’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Joan’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Joan’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Joan’s Oak

    Oak tree

  • Joan’s Oak

    Joan's oak

  • Joan’s Oak

    Joan's oak
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59 – Joan’s Oak – When I first visited my later-on-to-be husband, I was welcomed by a carpet of wild cyclamen on a small lawn, there by the grace of the shade provided by a magnificent oak. I fell in love. Not sure how old the tree is, but oh, if only it could talk! It grows where, during the Civil War, the original Longforth House was razed to the ground from missiles sent from Foxdown Hill. (The base of the house can, apparently, be made out just under the surface of the – now – football ground). So was this magnificent tree there to witness that? A sword (now in Wellington museum) officially identified from that period, was found nearby, and a cannon ball in a neighbour’s garden. Was the tree then an acorn, or just the glint of an acorn in its ‘parent’s’ eye? As I’ve known it, and before, it has provided a stout branch for a swing for generations of children. They stand on a wall next to the tree, grab the swing, and launch themselves way, way, high up over the drive. (No, if you love that child, or even if you don’t, you can’t watch). It shelters the entrance pillars, on top of which go floral decorations for Christmas, Jubilee, and – soon – a coronation. For walkers – dog or not – it tells them they’ve reached the highest point on the hill and so provides an excuse to admire the tree as they catch their breath. It’s very beautiful, strong, sturdy, and extremely useful. Well, it’s a tree, so of course it’s all of that. If you’re there, say hello. And the cyclamens will thank you for saving their home.

Map

  • Charles’ Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Charles’ Oak

    Oak Tree

  • Charles’ Oak

    Oak tree
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28 – Charles’ Oak – We can see this tree from our house and since we have moved to Wellington in 2022 this is ‘the’ oak tree in what we have dubbed ‘Oak Tree Field’. We have twin 3-year old boys and regularly talk about this tree as it passes through the seasons. It’s a landmark to us and a symbol of the rural England that I want my boys to know as they grow up.

Map

  • Addy’s Lucombe Oak

    Lucombe Oak

  • Addy’s Lucombe Oak

    Lucombe Oak

  • Addy’s Lucombe Oak

    Lucombe Oak

  • Addy’s Lucombe Oak

    Lucombe Oak

  • Addy’s Lucombe Oak

    Lucombe Oak

  • Addy’s Lucombe Oak

    Addy's lucombe oak
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7 – Addy’s Lucombe Oak in Linden Meadow. This Tree is so special to me. To start with, this was my Grieving Tree: it’s now my Thinking Tree. After the sudden death of my husband, leaving me with a baby and young child, I had to keep things as normal as possible at home for the children so it was difficult to let out my emotions. I was drawn to this tree. Out walking my dogs, I would end up at this tree, where I would sit and let out my tears of anger and grief. I’d always give her a hug and the Tree would then lend me its strength to return home and carry on. She didn’t care how much I cried or screamed. I strongly believe that she helped me through an extremely difficult time.
Now, several years on, if I have a problem, or a decision to make, or if I’m just feeling low, I return to the Tree. And somehow she always gives me the answers I need & the strength to carry on through life’s battles. She really is beautiful.

Map

  • Helen’s Oak

    Helen's Oak

  • Helen’s Oak

    Helen's Oak

  • Helen’s Oak

    Helen's Oak
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9 – Helen’s gravity defying oak. I never cease to be amazed by this beautiful oak that leans at such an angle over The Basins mill pond. It looks so magical any time of day, but particularly in the early morning or at dusk as the leaves hover just touching the water’s surface, or as a moorhen runs up the trunk! How did this come to be- it’s not particularly old in oak years, maybe 100. Was it growing as a sapling before the ponds were dug I wonder and tilted in as they were excavated. Or did brambles pull the young tree down towards the water’s edge. I guess we’ll never know, but I do hope the tree manages to keep defying gravity for many years to come!

Map

  • Martine’s Linden

    Martine's linden tree

  • Martine’s Linden

    Martine's linden tree

  • Martine’s Linden

    Martine's linden tree

  • Martine’s Linden

    Martine's linden tree

  • Martine’s Linden

    Martine's linden tree

  • Martine’s Linden

    Martine's linden tree

  • Martine’s Linden

    Martine's linden tree
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55 – Martine’s Linden At the end of June to early July the heady sweet scent of the Lime tree or Linden blossoms takes me right back to my childhood. My love of nature and trees originated from spending every July with my grandparents 40 miles south of Paris where they had rows of these magnificent trees. A Lime (genus Tilia) can grow to 130 feet tall and lives on average 500 years. Its scent is so strong it can be smelled hundreds of yards away on wet days as well as dry ones. The blossoms can be infused to make a calming tea for headaches and insomnia called ‘un tilleul’ in French like the name of the tree.
This tree is just behind the wall at the top of Wellington Cemetery where it is so peaceful to walk among the old grave stones. It has a great view of Rockwell Green famous landmarks, the two water towers next to All Saints Church and a Wellingtonia pine. One might be lucky to see a green woodpecker or hear a tawny owl in the evening.
Linden is a widely used name around Wellington.

Map

  • Simon’s oak

    Simon's oak no 2

  • Simon’s oak

    Simon's oak no 2

  • Simon’s oak

    Simon's oak no 2
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27 – Simon Parkin Oak 2

On Lukes Close, Longforth Farm, an enormous oak tree grows in the middle of a circle of new houses. I love that the planners were reverential to this magnificent specimen and left it well alone, but I can’t help thinking it looks lonely. I was inspired to write a short story about it and was thrilled when it was shortlisted for the 2023 Bristol Short Story prize.

The story is written from the point of view of the oak tree as it grows up with its friend, Bramble, in the idyllic Somerset countryside. The oak’s world is shattered when the men arrive to shred its surrounding bushes to make way for the housing estate. Before long, however, the benevolent oak learns to love its new neighbours – the residents that move in to the houses. From here on, the story departs from real life. The oak learns that the residents think the oak tree is a nuisance and plan to chop it down. Before they get a chance to though, with the help of its resilient friend Bramble, the tree carries out an appalling act of revenge and self-sacrifice. The story ends on a hopeful note, (for the dying tree anyway; more of a cautionary note for us) as it ‘talks’ to its sapling: ‘One day, all this will be yours, my sapling; forest as far as the blackbird can fly.’

I had great fun writing the story and I’ll be forever thankful to this gentle giant for the inspiration.

Map

  • Notable London Plane

    London plane tree

  • Notable London Plane

    London plane tree
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12 – Notable Plane Tree

Nominate me if you love me here

Map

  • Notable Lime

    Lime tree

  • Notable Lime

    Lime tree
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3 – Notable Lime Tree (Tilia x europaea)

This tall and notable lime tree by the wooden bridge leading to Fox’s field is a strong reminder of the seasons particularly in early summer when you are overwhelmed by its sweet and honey-like scent. You can’t help but look up and feel blessed for its beauty, its flagrance and its importance in our natural world. Bees love its nectar and the leaves and flowers make a flagrant and calming tea!

Map

  • Sweet Chestnut

  • Sweet Chestnut

  • Sweet Chestnut

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2 – Notable Sweet Chestnut

Nominate me if you love me here

Map

  • Jules’ Liquidamber

    Jules' Liquidamber

  • Jules’ Liquidamber

    Jules' Liquidamber

  • Jules’ Liquidamber

    Jules' Liquidamber

  • Jules’ Liquidamber

    Jules' Liquidamber
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19 – Jules’ Liquidambar (Sweet Gum) This tree is beautiful all year round but really comes into its own every Autumn when, for a number of weeks, it provides you with a glorious display of ALL the autumn leaf colours at the same time!! How amazing to see various shades of green, yellow, orange, purple, red & brown leaves together on one tree! When I first saw all these coloured leaves a few years ago, I was under the impression that there must have been several trees growing all together but a helpful neighbour gave me its name and I researched the details, realising that just one tree was responsible for such sheer beauty….every year I am in complete awe of its stunning array of colours. The Liquidambar styraciflua originates from eastern USA and was originally introduced to the UK in the seventeenth century. It’s one of the best trees for autumn leaf colour. As temperatures fall in autumn, its large, lobed, maple-like leaves turn from green to glowing shades of orange, red, yellow, or purple.

Map

  • Ben’s Wellingtonia

    Ben's wellingtonia

  • Ben’s Wellingtonia

    Ben's wellingtonia
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Ben’s Wellingtonia (Giant redwood) (Sequoiadendron giganteum) Known since the 1970’’s – half way meeting point for best friend and I, from aged 8 …. Still adore it’s majestic powerful, magnificence today, frequently walking past it heading for the Monument or further afield 🙂 Please note this Tree is slightly south of the Wellington tree map on the other side of the A38. To find its exact location click on the map button

Map

  • Sue’s Yew

    Sue's yew

  • Sue’s Yew

    Sue's yew
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22 – Sue’s Yew (Taxus baccata) This big yew stands in St John’s churchyard, close to where I live, so I often see it and marvel at its monumental presence. It’s a symbol of immortality and can actually live for thousands of years – I don’t know how old my one is but I suspect it’s something like a mere 900-1,000 years old, a virtual baby in the world of yews.
As a semi-professional artist, I love to paint trees so I notice them and often feel an emotional connection with particular individuals. To me they are friends and although many people might think I’m crazy, I do believe that trees have some kind of awareness – different from ours but definitely there.

Map

  • Ben’s copper beech

    Ben's copper beech

  • Ben’s copper beech

    Ben's copper beech

  • Ben’s copper beech

    Ben's Copper Beech

  • Ben’s copper beech

    Ben's Copper Beech
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45 – Ben’s Copper Beach (Fagus sylvatica Atropurpurea)

Home! Amazing cover in v hot weather – DIY irrigation system using a down pipe diverter. Fab swing when lads were small. LOTS of leaves, nuts and husks to clear so fab exercise!

Maria D adds: I walk past these trees most days as they are close to my house. Recently they seem to be getting bigger quickly and dominate the house just behind them. They are stunning.

Map

  • Odile’s Oak

    Odile's oak

  • Odile’s Oak

    Odile's Oak
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49 – Odile’s Oak (Quercus robur) This lovely oak tree is in Meyer Close on the Cades Farm Estate. The estate was built on fields about 15 years ago, but luckily the developers retained some green open spaces. It is on one of those that this tree is growing. The tree has almost perfect shape and looks majestic against the houses over which it towers. As you travel up Aspin Road, even from some distance away, this oak is there, drawing you forward. I am so glad that it was retained and allowed to flourish.

Map

  • Lucy’s Elm

    Lucy's Elm

  • Lucy’s Elm

    Lucy's Elm

  • Lucy’s Elm

    Lucy's Elm
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Lucy’s Elm (Ulmus procera) Elm has long been one of my favourite trees, alongside oak they were the epitome of the English countryside until Dutch elm disease arrived in the 1920’s with a second deadlier wave hitting in the 1960’s. They believe it killed an estimated 25 million trees. I have a reverence for all trees seeing them as something that have been here long before us and hopefully will continue long after but the disease that effects these trees makes me feel a deeper relationship with them, A tree with the same fragility as human wellness is not something we often think of when we see roots and sturdy bark. The relationship between trees and humans is a fascinating one and elm was used alot in boat building and mostly for making coffins which I believe only adds to it’s folkloric associations with death and the transitions and changes in life. In spring the paper thin seeds bloom and fall to the ground in bunches , vivid green with a tiny red inner spot they remind me of an egg, the very beginning of life in its wildest form.

This particular elm at the old Nynehead canal lift is my favourite. I think it has something to do with ‘what remains’ a tree once so common it’s called ‘common elm’ framing the canal lift that would have been a vital part of our landscape. two things lost to history and both linked so intrinsically with humans. I often sit on the bench nearby and imagine the cargo being offloaded, perhaps even elm to be taken to the shipyards.

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  • Beech

  • Beech

  • Beech

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6 – Nigel’s Beech (agus sylvatica) The beech tree sits atop a small slope on the old canal route. It’s roots are exposed giving the impression of passageways and routes to other worlds. You can sit up amongst the roots off the path looking down on the landscape and it’s a beautiful and peaceful spot to drift away especially in spring when the beech is soft and vivid green.

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  • Anita C’s Cherry

    Anita's Cherry

  • Anita C’s Cherry

    Anita's Cherry

  • Anita C’s Cherry

    Anita's Cherry

  • Anita C’s Cherry

    Anita's Cherry

  • Anita C’s Cherry

    Anita's Cherry

  • Anita C’s Cherry

    Anita's Cherry
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37 – Anita C’s Cherry (Latin name unidentified) This mature cherry tree in a quiet residential cul de sac looks absolutely stunning covered in its brilliant white blossom. It has the perfect structure and branch layout for climbing and the perfect resting place in its crux to sit and pick cherries from. I am transported back to carefree childhood days in my grandparent’s garden – where there were two similar shaped cherries with tons of juicy fruit- i would spend hours up in their branches watching the world go by. MY IDEA OF BLISS !

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  • Anita C’s Oak

    Anita's Oak

Anita C’s Oak (Quercus robur) This Oak must be hundreds of years old and it must’ve seen so many changes in that time – from looking out onto open agricultural land (and probably being nuzzled by cattle) to being part of a 21st century housing estate overarching a playground. The tree and its siblings have been given respect by the developers and planners. Every time I pass this oak on my morning run I think about the consideration and thoughtfulness that must have gone on to create a sympathetic residential backdrop to this giant. It fills me with hope for the future of Wellington.

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  • Sue’s Birch

    Sue's silver birch

  • Sue’s Birch

    Sue's silver birch
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23 – Sue’s Himalayan Birch (Betula jacquemontii) There are several trees that I love in St. John’s churchyard, near where I live, and I found this exquisite Silver Birch around the back of the church in a fairly secluded spot. All silver birches are beautiful and seem to have a particular kind of elegance, and poise. Because of this they are a favourite subject for my paintings so I feel quite emotionally close to them – to me they are like beings with some awareness, very different from our kind of consciousness, but with some sense of who they are – they are friends.

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  • Sue’s Cherry

    Sue's cherry

  • Sue’s Cherry

    Sue's Cherry

  • Sue’s Cherry

    Sue's Cherry
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24 – Sue’s Cherry (Prunus)

This is a lovely cherry blossom tree in St John’s Churchyard, (what three words: donates.elastic.leathers). I love it for its beauty, especially this time of year, and also because the glorious abundance of blossom is so ephemeral. This quality makes its appearance all the more magical, heralding summer and confirming nature’s ability to keep returning harvests, year after year.

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  • Lucy’s Hawthorn

    Lucy's Hawthorn

  • Lucy’s Hawthorn

    Lucy's Hawthorn

  • Lucy’s Hawthorn

    Lucy's Hawthorn
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4 – Lucy’s Hawthorn (Crataegus) Hawthorn is often found in hedgerows but on occasion it can develop into a tree. This Hawthorn stands in Foxes Field near the old factory walls. Hawthorn is richly entwined with UK history and folklore. Often known as may blossom the sweet clusters of heady scented blooms have long been the symbol of May day, a time when celebrations would have filled the countryside for the good times ahead. It was worn as a headress for brides as it’s most closely associated with fertility, Hawthorn was also the original maypole! For me it reminds me of the joy of life, the white blossom in spring and the red berries in autumn being just as beautiful as each other and it’s always wonderful to see one so well grown as the one in Foxes Field.

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  • Reg’s Oak

    Reg's oaks

  • Reg’s Oak

    Reg's oaks

  • Reg’s Oak

    Reg's oaks

  • Reg’s Oak

    Reg's oaks
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21 – Reg’s Oaks (waiting for photos to identify species) One massive oak tree with a fallen limb with a bench to look at the sunset from the top of hilly head, its pair a second massive oak, with a great iron bench under it.

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  • Jeremy’s two Wellingtonias

    Jeremy's wellingtonias

  • Jeremy’s two Wellingtonias

    Jeremy's wellingtonias
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Jeremy’s Wellingtonia x 2 (Sequoiadendron giganteum) 2 Wellingtonias in our garden visible from the M5 and Wellington landmarks. When growing up in Wellington many years ago I always admired these magnificent trees that would hide the house behind when driving along the bypass. Having moved away and now moved into that house I am delighted to be able to admire these colossuses bestriding the Jurston Fields estate. It is not till you get close do you appreciate the sheer size of the trunk and limbs. Despite the many storms that have passed through over the years they have remained resolute and continue to be a landmark to travellers passing by the town.

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  • Valerie’s Oak

    Valerie's Oak

  • Valerie’s Oak

    Valerie's oak

  • Valerie’s Oak

    Valerie's oak

  • Valerie’s Oak

    Valerie's oak
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20 – Valerie’s Oak (Quercus robur) Always good to see and observe how the two trees change over the seasons. I have stopped many times to admire the majesty of these beautiful oak trees. They are truly symbolic of Wellington to me especially when I can frame and contrast the Wellington Monument. I was able to do this while out on my many many walks in and around Wellington. These oak trees represent stability and change to me and they have weathered many storms and seen many changes. Their structure has been damaged but they stand tall and proud. I hope they will survive and thrive for many, many more years to provide pleasure and continuity for residents and visitors to Wellington.

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  • Oliver’s Alder

    Oliver's alder

  • Oliver’s Alder

    Oliver's alder
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14 – Olly’s Alder (waiting for photos to identify species) The Alder tree borders the river, half in, half out. Its roots in the river clean the water as it passes downstream and provide nooks and crannies underwater for wildlife. Above ground the wizened tree is covered in a layer of ivy and bramble making a dense messy habitat for birds to nest and nectar for pollinators in the autumn. I have seen siskins feeding on the Alder seeds, alder beetles feeding on the leaves and tree creepers, woodpeckers and other birds in its branches. Inaccessible from land you can admire it from across the river.

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  • Oliver’s Oak

    Oliver's Oak

  • Oliver’s Oak

    Oliver's Oak
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15 – Olly’s Oak (waiting for photos to identify species) The ancient oak provides a hidden gap gateway from the field into the canopy covered river and then on into the next field. Gnarled and burred the ancient oak is covered in insects, birds and life. However moving up the tree from the greenery it changes and at its crown are dead limbs which are a favourite perch for crows.

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  • Paula’s Oak

    Paula's Oak

  • Paula’s Oak

    Paula's Oak

  • Paula’s Oak

    Paula's Oak
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43 – Paula’s Oak  Outside my home

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  • Diana’s Wellingtonia

    Diana's Wellingtonia

  • Diana’s Wellingtonia

    Diana's Wellingtonia
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42 – Diana’s Wellingtonia In the park near Webbers Close, Pyles Thorne Road. Celebrating wonder historic past. Planted and looked after.. Stands apart in a piece of hidden park land

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  • John’s Honey Locust

    John's Golden Honey Locust

  • John’s Honey Locust

    John's Golden Honey Locust

  • John’s Honey Locust

    John's Golden Honey Locust

  • John’s Honey Locust

    John's Golden Honey Locust

  • John’s Honey Locust

    John's Golden Honey Locust
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16 – John’s Golden Honey Locust (Gleditsia Triacanthos Sunburst) Magnificent Tree in the little space in North Street across from Kings Cycles… I love Trees!

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  • Wellingtonia

    Harriet's Wellingtonia

36 – Harriet’s Wellingtonia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) From my walk from home into town, no matter the weather I always feel joy looking up at this tree.

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  • Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia tree

  • Wellingtonia

    Wellingtonia tree
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60 – Notable Wellingtonia

Nominate me if you love me here

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  • Silver Birch

    Silver Birch

  • Silver Birch

    Silver Birch

  • Silver Birch

    Silver Birch

  • Silver Birch

    Silver Birch
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41 – Notable Silver birch

Nominate me if you love me here

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  • Flip’s Evergreen Oak

    Flip's evergreen oak

  • Flip’s Evergreen Oak

    Flip's evergreen oak

  • Flip’s Evergreen Oak

    Flip's evergreen oak

  • Flip’s Evergreen Oak

    Flip's evergreen oak

  • Flip’s Evergreen Oak

    Flip's evergreen oak

  • Flip’s Evergreen Oak

    Flip's evergreen oak

  • Flip’s Evergreen Oak

    Flip's evergreen oak
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58 – Flip’s Evergreen Oak (Quercus ilex)

This old evergreen oak (Holm oak), which is on the highest point in Wellington can be seen from quite a distance. It was a part of my childhood and is now sheltering me in adulthood. It provides some protection by keeping that area of the garden and decking cool in hot weather. It towers over the Eco Lodge and provides somewhere for the birds to nest and feed. The squirrels then work hard trying to get to the bird food. It is a majestic tree with enormous, twisted, gnarled trunks. It has two main trunks forming a v-shape. The leaves, when they drop, are annoying, but I still love this tree, which I look out onto when I am working in my office. As the pictures show, you can walk around the tree as well as up and through it. 

Aerial drone footage
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  • Mo’s Oak

    Mo's oak

  • Mo’s Oak

    Mo's oak
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Mo’s Oak (Quercus robur) This beautiful tree was a beacon amongst all the new buildings that I was walking through. It felt like it was really holding space for life beyond the tarmac. I’ve recently moved to Wellington and was walking up here just looking around….and feeling a little flat and almost sad. There were new buildings and not a patch of green in sight, in a place with ‘fields’ (Jurston Fields’) in the name which seems to sum up what is happening in the world right now. Then I turned a corner and this beauty was standing there in all her splendour, with her arms outstretched as if to say; I’m still here!
Then I started to notice other bits of green around me and remembered that actually, in the distance, there were hills and trees and more life. I feel immensely grateful to this tree and am so glad she has a place here

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  • Silver Lime

    Greg's silver lime

  • Silver Lime

    Greg's silver lime
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46 – Greg’s Silver Lime (Tilia tomentosa)

I live a mile and a half from my partner of 15 years, and I visit her most days. This tree is on my route, which means I’ve observed it through 60 seasons! It represents my link with her. I love its symmetry bare or leaf clad, and the way the variety of leaves on it gives the impression that there may be more than one tree here, but there isn’t!

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  • Rogers Ash

    Roger's ash

  • Rogers Ash

    Roger's ash

  • Rogers Ash

    Roger's ash

  • Rogers Ash

    Roger's ash
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47 – Roger’s Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)

This ash tree is elegant and occupies a prominent location on the junction of three roads – Jurston Lane, Bakers Lane and Parker Close. In addition to the greenery it provides in the summer months, the trunk has a texture and colourings that add interest. In the winter it is an attractive, sculptural shape. It is a very large example of an ash.

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  • Notable Oak

    Notable oak

31 – Notable Oak (Quercus robur)

Nominate me if you love me here

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  • Notable Turkey Oak

    Notable Turkey Oak

26 – Notable Turkey Oak (Quercus cerris)

This tree is likely to be a Turkey Oak, it is very quick growing and is currently in the hedge at the back of the houses that were built mid 20th century. So it may only be 50-70 years old. The Turkey oak has hairy acorn cups so check this out when you look at it in late Summer early Autumn to confirm. It has beautiful spreading branches as you look up from the base of the tree and a very straight trunk.

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  • Notable Oak

    Oak

25 – Notable Oak (Quercus robur)

A wonderful example of an English Oak which is probably over 100 years old. It is now next to a children’s play park although originally it would have been part of Longforth Farm, where it might have provided shelter for stock. The oak supports more wildlife than any other species of tree in the UK. A huge variety of insects live and lay eggs in the tree, caterpillars are the food for many birds, particularly Blue Tits, altogether the oak supports over 2000 species!

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  • Notable Alder

    Notable Alder

  • Notable Alder

    Notable Alder

  • Notable Alder

    Notable Alder
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50 – Notable Alder (Alnus)

At first sight an untidy looking tree, but that’s because long ago Wellington people coppiced this tree for firewood, building materials etc… It’s a far cry from its present situation sitting amidst modern housing development – a small slice of history for those with eyes to see it.

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  • Bridgette’s Oak

    Bridgette's oak

  • Bridgette’s Oak

    Bridgette's Oak
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51 – Brigette’s Oak (Quercus robur)

When I was walking with Anita and Flip (TTW friends) on the “Cades Farm Canopies Root” this beautiful Oak did not have a “nominator” As I looked up and wandered around the tree I had two distinct memories…

1. Of me walking my late dog Jonty through the fields (before Cades Farm became a housing estate) and admiring its beauty in the green landscape.

2. During Covid lockdown I was distributing food for families in food poverty and I used to talk to this tree about the sadness and the grief so many families were going through.

When I look at this Oak it reminds me of our mortal existence and to be kind, respectful of all living things.

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  • Helen’s Scots Pines

    Helen's Scot's Pines

  • Helen’s Scots Pines

    Helen's Scot's Pines

  • Helen’s Scots Pines

    Helen's Scot's Pines

  • Helen’s Scots Pines

    Helen's Scots Pines
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35 – Helen’s Scots Pines (Pinus sylvestris)

There are many beautiful trees lining South Street, but at its end there are two majestic Scots Pines which, having grown up on Barn Meads Road and walking past these countless times during my childhood, these trees always made me feel like I was going home when I saw them

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  • Harry’s Magnolia

    Harry's magnolia

  • Harry’s Magnolia

    Harry's magnolia

  • Harry’s Magnolia

    Harry's magnolia
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44 – Harry’s Magnolia (Unknown)

I’ve always admired a magnolia tree in a garden on the corner of Wellesley Park and Hoyles Road. It’s currently in full leaf and magnificent, however early in the season it produces some large white flowers and is astonishing. It’s truly worth visiting on a ‘tour of trees

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  • Oak

    Oak

38 – Notable Oak

xxx

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  • Oak

    Oak

  • Oak

    Oak
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39 – Notable Oak

xxxx

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  • Simon’s Beech

    Simon's beech

  • Simon’s Beech

    Simon's beech

  • Simon’s Beech

    Simon's beech

  • Simon’s Beech

    Simon's beech
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61 – Simon’s Beech

With my bedroom window overlooking Wellington School’s sports field, for nearly four decades I’ve watched the perimeter trees grow and change through the seasons. Most of these trees are covered by group Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). In my twelve years as Tree Warden for the town, I became pretty familiar with the Council’s TPO map.

Having always rated beech trees very highly, I had a particular soft spot for one that I could monitor from home. Its autumn colours were always pretty spectacular, as in Photograph 1.

It was during the school holidays in August 2022 when, as I happened to be walking up Foxdown Terrace one afternoon, I saw men apparently cutting back the lowest branches of the beech tree, overhanging the edge of the sports field. They were clearly professionals, and I thought they must have been simply raising the tree canopy a bit, to allow easier access for the school’s ground staff on their tractors. Knowing the tree was protected, I was tempted to climb over the fence into the school grounds, to check that they knew that was the case. “Of course they’ll know”, I said to myself. “The school will have instructed them.” Not the best time for doing tree work, but it had presumably been arranged to be carried out when there were no children on the premises.

I was out next morning, but as soon as I got home I could hear the sound of chainsaws. Looking out of the bedroom window, I was aghast to see that half the beech tree had already gone. I tried in vain to contact Wellington School, but it seemed that no one was in the office. I did however get a message through to the Tree Officer in the District Council’s planning department, and later that afternoon the work on the tree suddenly stopped, leaving the tree as it is now (Photograph 2). I was later informed that there had been an “administrative oversight” on the part of the school.

In each of the last three springs, the tree has put out a few little green tufts of new growth, but there’s nothing to show for that effort and it’s visibly dying from the top down. Every day I receive a silent rebuke from it, for not intervening on its behalf when I should have.
The moral of this tale is “Never assume that the owner of a protected tree actually knows that the tree is protected.”

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  • Simon’s Cedar

    Simon Parkin's cedar

32 – Simon’s Cedar (Cedrus libani)

This majestic tree was likely planted at the same time as Longforth Farmhouse, the old building in its shadow, around the 18th century. Cedars of Lebanon such as this were popular around Georgian and Victorian homes as symbols of status and permanence.

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  • Simon’s Cherry

    Simon Parkin's Cherry

33 – Simon’s Cherry (Prunus)

I love that this squat cherry tree on Howard Road has found a tiny corner of the housing estate of its own. While other trees didn’t survive the development, this robust little tree provides beautiful blossom in spring, a thick canopy in summer and a glut of juicy fruit. Thank goodness for urban trees like this.

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  • Simon’s Pin Oak

    Simon Parkin's pin oak

34 – Simon’s Pin Oak (Quercus palustris)

Howard Road Play Area was officially opened by Mayoress of Taunton, Gill Slattery, in 2009 and, as part of its development, a variety of trees were planted on its boundary, the last one being planted by Cllr Tim Slattery. Decades later, these now-mature trees provide shade to the children playing in the park in the summer, not to mention being a valuable habitat for local birds.

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  • Simon’s Honey Locust

    Simon's Honey Locust

  • Simon’s Honey Locust

    Simon's Honey Locust

  • Simon’s Honey Locust

    Simon's Honey Locust
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48 – Simon’s Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’)

Native to central North America, wild Honey Locusts commonly have thorned branches and trunks, but this tamer, thornless variety, the Golden Honey Locust, is a rather lovely tree. In early summer it has bright golden yellow leaves which light up the neighbourhood.

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  • Simon’s Oak

    Simon's oak number 3

  • Simon’s Oak

    Simon's Oak 3

  • Simon’s Oak

    Simon's Oak 3

  • Simon’s Oak

    Simon's Oak 3

  • Simon’s Oak

    Simon's Oak 3

  • Simon’s Oak

    Simon's Oak 3
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52 – Simon’s Oak (Quercus robur)

Hidden in scrubland off Bramley Close, there is an old gnarled oak. Its lower branches are choked by the growth of other trees and brambles but this lovely old oak survives. It would be easy to overlook urban trees like this – it isn’t majestic or ‘lovely’ – but it provides a fantastic habitat and a vital buffer between the ever-expanding edge of town and the busy A-road beyond it.

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  • Simon’s Eucalyptus

    Simon Eucalyptus

  • Simon’s Eucalyptus

    Simon's Eucalyptus

  • Simon’s Eucalyptus

    Simon's eucalyptus

  • Simon’s Eucalyptus

    Simon's eucalyptus
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53 – Simon’s Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus)

Towering over the houses on Cades Farm is a single Eucalyptus. This tall, slender tree is like a mast, its pale leaves shivering in the breeze, a signpost above the houses of the estate.

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  • Simon’s Acer

    Simon's Acer Crimson King

  • Simon’s Acer

    Simon's Crimson King

  • Simon’s Acer

    Simon's Crimson King
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54 – Simon’s Acer Crimson King (Acer platanoides)

On Gay Street, there are two Crimson King maples. In the summer they are the colour of red wine and stand out like two huge, over-ripe berries!

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Nominate your tree

Somerset tree strategy

In January 2023 a Somerset Tree Strategy for 2023 – 2033 was published. In preparing this document a number of organisations come together. These were the Environment Agency, Naturally Somerset, Exmoor National Park, Quantock Hills, the Forestry Commission, the Woodland Trust and Somerset Council. These organisations were supported by Evolving Forests.

Somerset trees

The strategy includes short, medium and long term priorities, and is part of reinforcing a climate resilient Somerset. Trees are found in different environments, such as forests, moors and towns. Treescapes is a term that acknowledges the importance of trees not only in their visual impact and their support of wildlife, but in their importance in combating climate change. Treescapes need to be resilient and adaptable and the tree cover needs to be expanded. The Strategy can be downloaded on the button below. The Evidence Document which can be downloaded on button below, sets out the methodology behind the Strategy. It covers the various statistics and the context in which the strategy was formulated. 

More info on Somerset Tree Strategy
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