I have a favourite tree. And here’s why…
I have a favourite tree. It’s not so much the tree itself though, as its location: slap bang in the middle of the pavement.
It’s quite an old tree, and clearly the footpath has been built around it:
Tree in the middle of the pavement on Pershore Road
I often wonder why it’s there. The trees are otherwise in a deliberate line, equally distanced, along the road. Suddenly this anomaly springs up, apparently after the road was built (it’s a similar age to the other trees) but before the footpath was laid.
But maybe it’s not as random as it looks. The photograph doesn’t show it, but in the playing field to the right is another tree which could be a continuation of the line started by the two in the forefront of the picture:
The blue line to the left in the image shows the line of trees along the road; the yellow line to the right shows the possible line of trees through the playing field
I’m guessing there must be a preservation order on the trees, because otherwise the police training centre (whose playing field it is) would surely have removed theirs.
The thing that fascinates me (presuming my hunch is correct) is the purpose of that second line of trees: did it mark something out, and – if so – what? It’s not perpendicular to the other so it can’t have been marking out a square grid; and there’s nothing to suggest what may have been there before.
I know, I should look at old records and plans and historical whatnot. Maybe I will.
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I think I would love that tree too!
It is pretty cool! I’ve now also plotted the mystery line on Google Maps. Although the map doesn’t suggest any evidence for why it’s there.
I know this tree! It is cool. I’d always assumed it was a natural thing rather than being planted. I actually think it’s slightly younger than the other trees – maybe only by a couple of years and that maybe the seedling came from the tree next to it. I think normally trees don’t grow this close to each other because it’s not good for the species but maybe this one was a freak of nature? Whatever it’s cool! Let me know if you find out more.
I discovered the other day that at the top of that huge Waterstones just outside the Bullring there’s a ‘local’ section that includes loads of old Ordanance Survey maps going way back… next time you’re over that way might be worth having a browse to see if you can figure out the secret history!
I know this tree too. When I lived in Bournville I used to cycle along that pavement late at night (the cycle route through Canon Hill Park was either closed or too dark) and it’d always take me by surprise.
After a while I knew it was coming and came to love the obstacle forcing me to weave at speed.
That tree looks temptingly climeable. May take a trip to Pershore Rd to test this theory.
I think you should. I’ve got some TCP for when you fall out of it.