Nestled at almost the southernmost of England, Southampton lies just below Winchester, above Isle of Wight, and Portsmouth on the southeastern coast. Southampton is a city in England with distinct qualities and impressive character to boast off.

Known as the port city in England’s south coast, Southampton is known for being the city where the infamous Titanic departed in 1912. An interactive model of the great ship can be found in the SeaCity Museum. While Titanic is not the only point of reference making Southampton prominent, it thus is key to the city’s unforgettable history. But more than this, Southampton has an impressive lush of greens, eligible to be called the green city.

The legacy of a city is sometimes not all about the events that happened there but of its physical features. As for Southampton, it is a haven for trees. You can still find the old known trees around the city and discover how they survive through time.

While trees in parallel to life imply longevity, they are an asset to a city and are an evidence of life that traced back to the ancient times. This coastal town in the south of England prides itself with wide patches of green land and national parks that reunite you with nature.

Get to Know the Trees in Southampton

Southampton is home to some tree species. Of the many tree species found around the world, Southampton in the UK is only one location so small that it shares the percentage of tree population across the globe. Yet, these trees provide many benefits and offer the heritage that a certain location could be proud of.

1. Hawthorn Tree—A tree that when its flowers bloom becomes the sign of the unfolding summer. Characterised by its thorny, the Hawthorn is also called May tree. Its twigs are covered in thorns and its bark is greyish brown. The Hawthorn tree bears red fruits, perhaps, referring to hawthorn berries. Flowers in pink and white also bloom, giving off a strong scent. Due to its dense foliage, various bird species nestle for shelter and a hundred of insects thrive on Hawthorn for food. Districts in Southampton were named after “thorne” and “may”, such as Maybush and Thornhill.
2. Pear Tree—More commonly known for its fruits, the Pear tree can be found in Southampton and across the UK. Pear trees have spiny twigs, greyish brown bark that can grow up to 20 metres. Living for many centuries, first generation Pear trees were known as early as AD 995 and bore the delicious pear fruit.
3. Elm Tree—These trees can live for a century. In fact, they are known to dominate the English landscape and are common to grow in hedgerows but can only be found now in the south. As old as they are, Elm trees have hairy twigs with asymmetric leaves. The Elm trees have so much importance to wildlife as elm seeds serve as food for small mammals and birds.
4. Oak Tree—Considered an iconic tree for its formidable stature for its sturdy branch, standing up to 40 metres with a broad crown that speaks of authority and majesty over the many hundreds of tree species in the wild and in the UK, the old oak tree is a master in itself. Oak leaves grow in bunches and appear to have many deep lobes. The popular acorn or oak nut grows from the oak tree that sprouts during spring. Just like its source, the acorn has a tough shell shaped like a cup. And Oak trees have five different species. Though the most popular is the English Oak since it is native there, the Turkey Oak gets its spotlight in the south of England. Interestingly, Turkey was sacred to certain cultures, those who honour the Greek gods. The other Oak variants are the Red Oak, Holm Oak (the only evergreen oak), and Sessile Oak
5. Corsican Pine Tree—Also known as Black pine, this tree is triangular with rough and greyish brown dense branches. The Corsican Pine lives for over a half millennium and is native to the southern coastal areas of Europe and is widely used as an ornamental tree. Pine trees have cones as fruits and leaves that represent the traditional Christmas tree.
6. Magnolia Tree—The Magnolia tree is not as popular as its flower, the Magnolia. Prized for their wide variety of flowers, Magnolia trees produce flowers in pink, white, yellow, and a combination of pink and white, and purple. With such amazing colour variants, Magnolia trees make a good ornamental tree or plant for gardens.
7. Sequoia Tree—This tree speaks for itself about its might, stability, height, and longevity. Called “Giant” Sequoia trees because they emulate greatness in many aspects. Giant Sequoias are the hardest trees known. They have thick and wide bark that is impervious to fire and stand to around 300 feet. They are the longest surviving tree on earth which have a lifespan of 3,000 years. Known as the natural skyscrapers of the world, Giant Sequoias live up to their enormous character. 
8. Monkey Puzzle—Famous in Ageas Bowl cricket ground, the Monkey Puzzle has an old and exotic spiky look. It is an evergreen tree with winding branches that look like monkey tails. In contrast, the name wasn’t derived such that the branches are associated with monkey tails. “Monkey Puzzle” was coined when a group of people referred to the winding branches as something complicated for the monkeys to climb and that literally it could puzzle a monkey. Such remarks have been known to have influenced the name.

It is simply wonderful to know that Southampton is home to many of these interesting old trees. Estate trees lined up a road even when the original homes were gone to a certain area. And when Autumn arrives, the leaves of these beautiful trees will turn into their distinct and vibrant colours adding luster to life and to the ground they stood.

Trees provide us the history of life. They are the perfect witness to millenia and centuries of civilization. Even before gardening and landscaping were alive, these trees will help us return to our roots and appreciate the benefits we get in many ways.

Get to know more about trees, other than just they are producers of food or beautiful flowers, but how they become a part of our society. Call Alpine Tree Surgeons for more information, especially if you have spotted a giant sequoia on your property.