(as of August 2017)
There was some disquiet after the opening of the field in August 2017, to see that a rather sculptural – but dead – tree on the Western edge of the field had been felled. The Brewery Field had recently been added to the Chichester Conservation Area. Therefore all the trees were protected and none could be removed without planning permission. We can report that, after due process, that particular tree was removed for safety reasons.
As part of a developing programme of activities, Westgate residents Jan and David Tregear had been preparing a tree quiz and Brian Hopkins, then Westgate’s very own tree warden, had made an exhaustive inventory of the trees on the field which is reproduced here. All the trees were around the edge and shrubs generally omitted. Brian also gave every one its scientific name, as English names are not always reliable.
[We do apologise for the quality of the photographs, most of which were taken on a very dull day. Various notes have been added in italics and the ones in bold should help you find your way round the field. It is quite probable that as the years roll by that this list will not be 100% accurate but it is an extraordinary piece of research which deserves its place here as a historic snapshot of the Brewery Field in August 2017]
The Brewery Field Tree Walk
Start on the South Side: walking from East to West
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – [‘does not qualify as a tree’] several behind birches
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Laurel = Sweet Bay (Laurus nobilis)
Then there was a gap – with the Henty Gardens garages over fence
And a pile of wood chippings
Rowan = Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Leyland Cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) – several
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Silver Birch (Betula pendula)
Leyland Cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – [‘does not qualify as a tree’]
Dead tree now felled – large; probably Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastrum)
West Side: South to North
Bay (Laurus nobilis) – a large shrub
Holly (Ilex acutifolium) – tiny; under Bay
Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) – not a tree
Large gap
This is a Weeping Willow – [a variety of White Willow] (Salix alba ‘Tristis’) – of very large girth [the largest of this species is actually in Sussex (and Britain) at 238 cm diameter]. You will see there is a fork low down on the main trunk. Brian was of the opinion that this tree was worth measuring professionally and the identity checked
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – [‘does not qualify as a tree’] – large; away from fence
Silver Fir (Abies sp.; are 50 species) – in garden over fence
Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastrum)
English Oak (Quercus robur)
A 2nd English Oak (Quercus robur)
A 3rd English Oak (Quercus robur)
Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) – needles in threes; cones asymmetric at base
Up the alleyway. The new wire fence runs on the right from here on
Common Laburnum (Laburnum amagyroides) – over garden fence; at least two of them
Buddleia (Buddleija davidii) – a shrub; by wire fence
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – [‘does not qualify as a tree’]
Path now narrower due to bend in wire fence
Cider Gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) – large tree; shedding bark; over garden fence
Plum (Prunus domestica agg.) – [long-cultivated complex hybrids and varieties]
Pampas Grass
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – [‘does not qualify as a tree’] large at extreme end of path
North Side: West to East
Buddleia (Buddleija davidii) – a shrub; by wire fence
In a group
Common Lime (Tilia. x europaea) – away from wire fence
Common Lime (Tilia. x europaea) – away from wire fence
Common Lime (Tilia. x europaea) – away from wire fence
East Side: North to South
Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) – more Ash trees further east
Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Holm Oak (Quercus ilex)
Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior)
Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) – [‘now frequent as a street tree’] large tree; largest in Sussex is 83 cm diameter
Variegated Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Variegatum’)
Variegated Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Variegatum’)
Variegated Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Variegatum’)
A seat, away from the edge
Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) – [‘now frequent as a street tree’] large tree; largest in Sussex is 83 cm diameter
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – [‘does not qualify as a tree’] several
Italian Alder (Alnus cordata) – [‘now frequent as a street tree’] large tree; largest in Sussex is 83 cm diameter
Silver Birch (Betula pendula) – over boundary
Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) – [‘does not qualify as a tree’] several; dead
This list complied B.H. – 07 August 2017