10 Comments
Apr 27Liked by Paul Wood

Yank here! What an unmitigated delight to discover your site! Western Oregon where I live is home to many fine historic trees and one of our neighborhood trees, a seventy foot white oak I think was subject to being cut down to make room for some new row homes. Our neighborhood association staged a weeks-long protest and actually won! It was a battle though- at one point the developers sent two guys with chainsaws to girdle the tree at night, but we had people camping out on the lot who stopped that! Now it's been over twenty years and the "Good Old Tree" is still standing!

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Good for you and your neighbours. It’s always heartening to hear of a historic tree surviving. Gives you faith in humanity!

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I was so pleased to read this! I am a Westminster resident and I thought the Palm tree had just been chopped down - I didn't realise it had been given a new home. I will pass on the good news to my friends about this and your tour of the Churchill Gardens which looks great. Thank you!

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Aug 9Liked by Paul Wood

I can hardly believe this! Back in September last year I passed the Lambeth Bridge roundabout and took a picture of the Canary Island date palm, as I have many times. Then last month I was walking along Grosvenor Road when I spotted another Phoenix canariensis in Churchill Gardens and photographed that too. It was only when I was Google-mapping along Grosvenor Road to locate another of my photographs that I noticed Churchill Gardens - with no date palm!! I thought I was going mad and puzzled over this - but there was no doubt that my picture was of the same location, even to the leaning rubbish bin! Then I noticed the date at the bottom of the Google map - October 2022! I absolutely love it!!!

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When I visited in May, the palm appeared to be doing fine in its new location, I guess we may have to wait until next spring to see if it continues to thrive. Fingers crossed!

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Aug 10Liked by Paul Wood

It looked absolutely fine last month! Hope it continues to thrive.

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This is nice to see. With climate change, it may well be these outlying trees that save populations (a bit of a twist on saving biodiversity!). In S Europe, these gorgeous trees are being ravaged by various palm weevils. No effective treatment I know of except the most toxic of pesticides.

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Apr 27Liked by Paul Wood

So nice to know it hasn’t just been chopped!

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Let’s hope it thrives in its retirement!

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It’s certainly a lucky tree, and in great company in Churchill Gardens where there are all manner of fascinating trees to see.

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