Beyond the apple tree, notice that most of the trees in that area are multi stemmed. In 1992-93 this corner of the park burned to the ground. The trees regenerated naturally, becoming multi stemmed. This is the wild area of the Park, which has been permanently fenced off to restrict access since the Park's inception in 1986. The rest of the site is completely open, so this area is a reserve within it, creating a safe place for rare and shy creatures such as slow worms.You can see the boundary between Stave Hill and Russia Dock Woodland (RDW). Trees in the RDW were planted a few years earlier around 1984 as large single stemmed standards, ahead of the main plantings in SHEP (1986-9), which were whips (very small saplings) - meaning they are almost 10 years ahead. Species include White Poplar, Crack Willow, Sycamore, Golden Acacia Robinia pseudoacacia Planting here include many non natives, whereas plantings in the Ecological Park were (mainly) indigenous species.
From the Turbine Scrub through to the Dry Stone Wall, February 2017.
Photograph: Ky Lewis