32. Millennium Bridge Tree

Cardiff should be proud of its remarkable trees, the Millennium Bridge Tree is one the very best

In the leafy Cardiff suburb of Roath, an impressive Caucasian wingnut can be seen, indeed it is the largest in Wales. But in the centre of town, on the Bute Park side of the Millennium Bridge, a similar looking tree, but double the size can be found growing on the left bank of the Taff. It is a hybrid wingnut, a rare type that counts the Caucasian species as one of its parents. It is the largest of its kind anywhere, and must be Cardiff’s largest tree.

Species details

Hybrid Wingnut
Pterocarya x rehderiana

Where to find it

Millennium Bridge, Bute Park, North Road, Cardiff CF10 3ER
///return.races.valley | 51.484085, -3.187608

Other rare Cardiff trees

19. Victoria’s Secret

Hybrid wingnut notes

Unfamiliar to many, wingnuts are actually large, spreading trees, but they are quite uncommon. There are two species that you’re likely to see, the most frequent is Caucasian wingnut (Pterocarya fraxinifolia), and the other is Chinese wingnut (P. stenoptera). Then there is their very rare hybrid, of which the Millenium Bridge Tree is an exceptional example. This tree exhibits characteristics of heterosis or hybrid vigour: it has grown enormous, far larger than either parent might be expected to achieve, and it’s done that in less than 70 years.

Day 7

The urban tree festival is in full swing and continues until Sunday 21st May. Check out the programme here.

2023 marks the Festival’s sixth year, and since starting as a long weekend of small events in London, it has burgeoned into more than a week of celebrating urban trees everywhere. Perhaps 2024 will see even more towns and cities taking part. Cardiff, with its rich urban forest, would be an ideal place to host Urban Tree Festival events!

My top Festival selection for today is, er, me

• 18:00 Can Books Save Trees? I’m part of a panel discussion chaired by author Peter Fiennes with campaigner and writer Gio Iozzi addressing this intriguing question. Join us in Clerkenwell this evening.

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