Identifying Trees In Local Park

[aylesford]

I am doing a little project with my daughter, trying to identify a dozen trees in my local park in Kent (and pressing the leaves). I have found most of the answers online, but was hoping for a little help on a couple.

Trees and Leaves - a set on Flickr

The numbers of the leaves correspond with the numbers of the trees, from 1 to 12. I have entered more than one tree name (and question marks) on those I'm not sure about.

Thank you in advance for any help to this tree novice.

[Johnny81]

2. Rowan
3. Not sure - don't think it's an elm no angle cut in the leaf joins at the bottom - maybe a prunus sp.
4. Ash
5. A cherry I think - leaves to serrated to be a beech
6. Whitebeam
7. silver birch
8. Beech
10. False acacia

You have mentioned Alder a few times, this tree will normally be found in wet areas usually by rivers etc. If you google Alder Alnus glutinosa you will see a characteristic notch in the front of the leaf and the distinctive fruits and catkins on this species. Beware other planted alder species like Green alder and Italian alder.

[aylesford]

Brilliant reply; exactly the feedback I was hoping for.

I thought Copper Beech for 5 based on the Internet, but an ex landscape gardener at work also suggested ornamental cherry. Apparently, Latvians in the area have been warned the fruit is poisonous in local park cherry trees?

10. Are we talking different names for the same thing? If so, which name would be better to teach a young child?

Will maybe get more samples and look at the bark of number 3. Would hate to have to give up on one.

Many thanks for your help.

[Johnny81]

10. Robinia pseudoacacia I call it false acacia it is also known as black locust, apologies I should also use the scientific naming bit lazy of me

Also some of our more experienced botanists will also confirm these too - but difficult to get an exact species on the cherry vars. etc. Welcome to WAB.

[aylesford]

Thanks for the welcome. I should really have introduced myself first.

With your help I have amended the photo titles, with only a question mark remaining on number 3. I also now have some target trees for when this project expands a little next year. Unfortunately no Oaks or Yews nearby that I know about.

Does anyone have any experience of mounting pressed leaves? Ideally, I want to create some A4 worksheets, perhaps to be stored in a ring binder. One website suggested sticky back plastic. We also have a laminator at work, but worried sheet might melt over the leaf.

[Hedera]

Your No.3 could be traced by your local parks and gardens dept. who planted the tree. There are several along my road, some of which bear plum-like fruit. Some children tried to eat some one day but spat them out very promptly! They seem to have a finite life, as several have "gone away".

[aylesford]

Thanks for that idea. Might contact the parish council. Got this mad idea one day of doing a tree map of the local park online. But that will involve another completely new set of skills.

[Hedera]

It's a great idea, and would be a lovely project to do with your little girl. Collect the coloured autumn leaves and make a collage. The stickyback plastic used for book covering is good for this to preserve them.

[aylesford]

Ahem, sorry to be a pest, the last three for this year...pics of trees and leaves.

Trees and Leaves - a set on Flickr

13...Some kind of cherry or plum?

14...delighted to find just about the only local oak.

15...Really want this to be a sycamore based on a more angled seed than number 1, but not sure.

Thanks.

[Johnny81]

13. Looks more like Blackthorn or maybe damson ? and 15. Norway maple - sycamore leaves are less pointed on the lobe edges.