May 2021 - New Pinetum for Simonsway!

 

As a part of the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency, we have been planting lots of new and interesting trees throughout Manchester, from the deep south (Wythenshawe) to the far north (Blackley). 

 There are lots of good reasons for planting trees as well as sequestering (locking up) Carbon.  Maybe, one of the best is that most people love trees and want to live in areas with lots of them. 

 On Simonsway we are planting over 50 bold, interesting and climate resilient trees that over the next few years will transform the look of this area of South Manchester.  Many grand and tall growing conifers, which are more usually found in the large gardens of the National Trust or the preserves of the rich and famous, will be planted along the wide grass verges. We have picked places where these magnificent trees will be able to grow to their full size without ever outgrowing their planting positions. This is definitely one for the long-term future but it will look very nice in only a few years’ time, these are quick growing trees – so, not only for future generations to enjoy. 

 It’s worth pointing out that in the bad old days, when Manchester’s cotton mills and every house in the city burned coal, no conifer could last for more than a few years before it succumbed to the high levels of air pollution.  This is why parks in urban areas do not have these splendid trees in full maturity – they just couldn’t be grown successfully before the Clean Air Acts, cleaned up the air. 

 What is a Pinetum?  Its Like an Arboretum,  but  in particular a collection of rare and beautiful conifers.  The Verges along Simonsway will lend themselves perfectly to this fantastic collection of very special trees.

 

Noel Nugent – Programme lead for Tree Action MCR

 

Some of the Species Planted include:

 

 Sequoiadendron giganteum; Giant Sequoias, biggest trees in the world and maybe the most beautiful. The biggest trees are growing high in the mountains of inland California. A thousand years is nothing to them. 

Tsuga heterophylla; Western Hemlock.  Tall growing trees with elegantly drooping foliage.  Trees originally from Oregon and British Columbia, from the West coast of America and Canada. 

Larix dicidua; Our European Larch.  A deciduous conifer with bright green needles in spring.  Birds love the small seeds. 

Cedrus diodara; From high in the Himalayas. Kashmir. A stately tree with drooping branch tips and leader – an adaptation to deal with high levels of snow.