Champion Trees
Fact File
Featuring a diverse assortment of trees from around the globe, our extensive tree collection is rich in history and character. Across the estate, we have several very old and significant trees, many of which are recognised as champions by TROBI (the Tree Register of Britain and Ireland). This means our Champion Trees are either the tallest or have the biggest girth of their kind in the county, Britain and Ireland, or in one instance, the world.
We have over 25 British and Irish Champions, a further 3 English Champions and over 70 trees with county Champion status. Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens is also home to our monumental tree, the Algerain Oak which is the largest recorded tree of its kind in the world.
Look out for their blue plaques throughout the gardens to identify them
Quercus canariensis, our enormous Algerian Oak, was measured at 33.6 metres tall. This makes it the first tree of its species to be recorded at over 30 metres in height and is consequently the tallest known example of this species in the world – giving it the status of a Monumental Tree. You can find our Monumental Algerian Oak on the west side of Middle Pond, indicated with a star in our summer guide - it is a year-round favourite.
Collect your guide from reception.
Prunus serrulata ‘Albi-plena’
Prunus serrulata ‘Albi-plena’ is one of our Spring favourites and can be found on Daffodil Lawn. This huge spreading Japanese Cherry is over 100 years old and has the largest girth in West Sussex at 247cm. In early Spring, it is covered in pure-white double flowers that last just one week – so be sure not to miss them in bloom.
High up on the slope, above Engine Pond, stands a beautiful Abies nebrodensis. This tall, dark conifer, called the Sicilian Fir, is a species that is critically endangered in the wild, where just 30 trees remain on the island of Sicily. This makes our specimen here very important for the conservation of the species – especially as it is the tallest Sicilian Fir in Britain at 24 metres tall!
Below the Clocktower Café, you’ll find a Phyllocladus trichomanoides var. alpinus. Known as the Mountain Celery Pine, this oddball conifer is endemic to New Zealand. It is very slow-growing, so even though our tree is just over 7 metres tall and has a girth of only 42 cm, it is still the English champion tree for girth and height.
Another interesting tree to hunt out is Pseudolarix amabilis which can be spotted at the top of Daffodil Lawn. Known as the Golden Larch, this Chinese tree isn’t actually a larch, but its deciduous leaves do turn a striking gold hue before dropping off in autumn. At 240cm, the trunk on this tree has the largest girth in the county. It’s one of several plants here that are currently being captured by our Florilegium, a group of botanical artists who are trying to capture some of our rare and exotic species.
A discussion on Champion Trees at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens wouldn’t be complete without at least one Rhododendron on the list. Rhododendron ‘Ivery’s Scarlet’ is a variety of Rhododendron that has been around since the 19th Century and this individual is probably one of the original plants first planted on the estate when Charles Beauclerk and his team created the gardens during the first half of the 19th century. Unsurprisingly, it is the girth and height champion for Britain. It produces plentiful red flowers in early Spring and you’ll find it in the Loderi Garden.
Guided Tree Walk
Experience the wonders of trees with a guided tour through our Grade I listed estate, featuring our oldest, rarest, largest and most interesting specimen trees.
Led by our avid naturalist and gardener Elliot Chandler, explore our unique ecosystem where both native and naturalised trees thrive.
Garden entry and a cup of tea or coffee after.
11:00 – 12:30
£25 per person
£15 for Leonardslee members
