Bring Back The Blossom
The Regent’s Park covers more than 395 acres of glorious parkland and houses a wealth of hidden natural treasures from 100 different bird species to more than 12,000 roses – much loved by locals and visitors alike. And now there is a new Avenue of Cherry Trees to celebrate!
As part of the original Nash layout, Chester Road, one of the main gateways to the park, was planted with cherry trees in the 1930s. At the same time as Queen Mary’s Rose Gardens were established - both of these projects were made possible thanks to a donation from local resident and acclaimed artist Sigismund Goetze (1866-1939). The last cherry trees (Prunus ‘Kanzan’) were planted in 1978 and having reached the end of their natural lifespan, they were removed in February 2015. We’re now working with local community partners to recycle the old tree trunks into practical items such as bird boxes and picnic tables to be placed back into The Royal Parks.
Bringing Back the Blossom
Thanks to generous donations from the local community, 100 new cherry trees of the variety Prunus 'Sunset Boulevard', were planted in November 2015. Spring now heralds the arrival of their first flowers in the Regent’s Park, which means the blossom is now officially back! Our Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales lent his support to the campaign to restore the Cherry Tree Avenue - read the full message of support here.
Caring for the trees
Now that the cherry trees have been reinstated, we need your help to fund their care over the next decade. You can sponsor a cherry tree, which you can dedicate to a loved one or to commemorate a special occasion. As a thank you for your generous support you will receive a unique commemorative gift carefully crafted from the wood of the old trees, as well as a certificate and tree map acknowledging your generous support.
For more information contact Jessica Dash - Head of Development - Royal Parks Foundation: [email protected]