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Corkscrew Willow

The corkscrew willow which once grew in Church Road.

The corkscrew willow which once grew in Church Road.

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.

To cut a long story short, I developed (sorry) an interest in photography, bought myself a decent camera and schlepped it everywhere I went, including the top of Church Road where stood a rather unusually shaped tree which I photographed on several occasions.

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 China and was planted in this country mainly in small gardens.

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 Church Road tree.

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.]

 

Corkscrew willow - close up of twisted branches.

Corkscrew willow - close up of twisted branches.


On and on it winds.

On and on it winds.


Anyone fancy a Twiglet?

Anyone fancy a Twiglet?

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