26. Seven Dials Wheatley

Brighton’s landmark tree, saved from the chop back in 2013

Wheatley elms, the tree that arguably defines Brighton and Hove, have a handsome, but consistent form; they are an ideal tree for cities where regularity is valued. Despite this uniformity, individuals achieve notoriety through age, like the giant tree in Blakers Park, or through their position. The Seven Dials Wheatley has done just that. It is a landmark tree so valued that it was saved from developers’ chainsaws in 2013. 

What were they thinking?

Species details

Wheatley Elm
Ulmus minor 'Sarniensis'

Where to find it

Seven Dials, Brighton BN1 3JL
///dame.fits.exact | 50.830679, -0.147605

Wheatley elm notes

Neat, pyramidal Wheatley elms are also known as Guernsey elms or Jersey elms, and at one time they were often termed ‘Cornish elms’, however there is a distinct Cornish elm, once common in the west country, which has a quite different form to this tree. It is thought Wheatley elms were first brought into cultivation in the early 1800s from grafts of specimens found in Guernsey. So, the Guernsey name makes sense, but where does ‘Wheatley’ come from? Curiously, it refers to a suburb of the Yorkshire town of Doncaster. A significant estate, Wheatley Park once spread along the banks of the River Don and was planted extensively with Guernsey elms in the Victorian period. These wonder trees were such a success, they were championed by the landowner, one William Bryan Cooke, who advocated planting them abundantly. This happened to such an extent they became known as Wheatley Elms. Sadly, Wheatley elms are highly susceptible to Dutch elm disease and trees that were once a feature of Doncaster have all but disappeared. But hundreds of fantastic examples can still be seen in Edinburgh and Brighton.

Urban Tree Festival Day 1

The Urban Tree Festival kicks off this morning and continues for nine more days finishing on Sunday 21st May. Check out the programme here.

Today’s highlights include two events in Brighton:

• 10:15: Brighton – City of Elms If you’re reading this early enough, you may still have time to join what promises to be a fascinating walk. It’s free, but booking is essential

• 10:30 & 2:00: National Collection of Sussex Apples A Guided walk at Brighton Permaculture Trust’s Stanmer Park Orchards. Also free!

Throughout the Urban Tree Festival. I’ll be posting a Daily Urban Tree which will reflect the places where the Festival is happening and events that are taking place.