Black Poplar Trees
One of Britain’s most endangered trees is the native black poplar Populus nigra. Around the country there are a number of authorities with Biodiversity Action Plans to promote this species including in Greater London. The plans promote actions which increase public awareness over the plight of the tree; create inventories of existing trees; and carry out additional planting of locally sourced cuttings. Some plans state the need to use planning policy and Tree Protection Orders to protect trees that might be threatened. Others go as far as to remove flood-banks and create conditions suitable for floodplain woods exactly as those in Ham-between Ham Lands and the river Thames - where there are two fairly prostrate native black poplars. An analysis of Norfolk BP tree locations showed they were often associated with kilns, farms, mills, smithies and malthouses indicating they had been planted rather than a product of natural seed dispersal. The wood was fire resistant, can resist paraffin...