Bracknell's Trees
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Forests and woodland accounts for 20% of land cover within the borough (Bracknell BAP). This varies from small copses to large coniferous forest plantations, historic parkland trees and urban/street trees, all of which combine to give the borough its rich ‘sylvan’ character.
Bracknell Forest was once part of Windsor Great Park, a vast expanse of royal hunting forest, dotted with small settlements. The quality of its many fine oaks is referred to in the Doomsday Book which was commissioned in December 1085 by William the Conqueror. As a royal forest the trees were protected from development for many hundreds of years. Today, the Forest is much diminished but there are still large patches remaining, particularly in the southern region of the Borough. These remnants are known as Swinley Forest and are owned and managed by the Crown Estate primarily for recreation.
Trees are a very important part of our landscape and wider environment providing oxygen, a habitat for birds, mammals and insects, shelter, shade, beauty, and a timber source. During their long lives, trees filter the air and absorb the carbon emissions of transportation and industry improving health and quality of life for all those within Bracknell Forest.
Other benefits provided by trees are:
- Helping to trap carbon-dioxide
- Filtering dust and pollutants from the air
- Providing shade from harmful ultra-violet radiation
- Providing a home and food source for wildlife
- Intercepting rainfall which reduces run-off
- Acting as a natural wind barrier
‘The Chestnuts’
A relic from the Warfield Park Estate, these veteran Sweet Chestnut trees are thought to be approximately 200 years old. The Chestnut “walk” once ran from the old ice-house to the woodland edge and must have been quite impressive. These mighty structures now stand quite unexpectedly in the midst of a residential housing estate paying quiet testament to the grand parkland that has long since gone.
South Hill Park
Many of the trees from the original parkland estate that is now South Hill Park Arts Centre were retained during the 1970’s residential development. Most notably these include the massive Cedars of Lebanon (Greenham Wood & surrounding roads) and Oak (Evedon) which are thought to be over 200 years old. Another significant tree situated to the rear of the Wild Theatre building and above the Italian Garden is an ancient Beech thought to be one of the oldest trees on the site. The park is also home to some unusual exotics including a fine example of a Deodar Cedar on the main lawn and a Wellingtonia (Giant Redwood) to the side of the Wilde Theatre. For further information see South Hill Park and Historic Grounds Restoration.
Lily Hill Park
Lily Hill Park is a good example of a 19th century English Parkland Garden including meadows, woodland, a ha ha” and numerous specimen exotic trees.
Visitors are encouraged to enjoy some of the original features of the Park like the Yew tree walk on the Eastern boundary and the three stately Wellingtonia’s on the summit of Foresters Hill. The park is also home to remnant Beech woodland and Starch Copse which is home to an impressive collection of Rhododendrons and Azaleas and more recently the discovery of an unusual Cucumber Tree” (Magnolia acuminata)."
Pope’s Meadow
One of the star features of this site are the magnificent, veteran oak trees dotted around the open meadow. These were originally planted for timber, but now provide a valuable habitat for nesting birds, bats and rare invertebrates.
Other sites containing trees of local interest include Whitegrove Copse and Tinkers Copse.
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