Corkscrew Willow
Some time in 1989 or 1990, I was asked to take some photographs for a book. The only photos I had taken up to that point were with my Kodak Brownie 127 and were all terrible but I was assured that the Canon (probably a Sureshot) I was given to use was idiot-proof.
Somebody told me that this tree was a "Corkscrew Elm" and I did not think to question this until I started putting this piece together. It appears that there is no such thing as a "Corkscrew Elm" but there is a "Corkscrew Willow" (Salix matsudana ‘Tortuosa’) which is otherwise known as the "Contorted Willow", a species which originated in
A look at some web sites convinced me that there is a strong likelihood that this tree was indeed Salix matsudana although, in the pics on the web, the contortions are nowhere near as dramatic as those of the
The tree stood (possibly dead) for some time after but was cut down by (I think) the council prior to the Lidl development. The other possibly is that it was removed as part of Lidl’s deforestation program which culminated in the recent removal of the ornamental shrubbery. Whoever disposed of the tree did a thorough job; there is no sign of a stump. I would guess that the photographs were taken between 1989 and 1991.
[Anyone else remember this unusual tree? – ed.]
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