A Saturday Of Monkey Puzzle Tree Heaven

Thanks to the recently discovered Monkey Map I realised that there were 4 new Monkey Puzzle trees to be seen that are quite local to me. So on Saturday I jumped into Nathalie's van Geoff and headed due East to Victoria Park to see the first 3 trees. Whilst there I planned to photograph the tree I had only seen as I had driven past a couple of times before. I was very excited as this would mean that I had passed the half century mark of Monkey Puzzle trees seen since I began my quest, a fact made especially sweet as I will soon be 'celebrating' my 50th year on Planet Earth.

Victoria Park (E1)

Victoria Park (E2)

Victoria Park (E3)

Victoria Park (E2, E3 & E1)

Victoria Park (E4)

Victoria Park (E4)

After photographing these four trees it was time to head off to Shoreditch Park to photograph a tree I'd also only seen driving past. The park is not that inspiring with large sections of the open space fenced off, which I can only assume is to let the grass regrow, however the presence of a very sweet Monkey Puzzle tree more than makes up for this.

Shoreditch Park (N3)

After Shoreditch Park I returned Geoff to Camden, had a quick cup of tea and then jumped onto a number 27 bus to Marylebone. It didn't take me too long to find the next Monkey Puzzle tree I was looking for, which lives in Paddington Street Gardens.

Paddington Street Gardens (W1)

After spending some time admiring such a beautiful tree I decided that as I was in walking distance of the Monkey Puzzle tree pub in Paddington there was no better way to celebrate passing 50 Monkey Puzzle trees seen than a quick pint in my favourite named pub. It also meant I could take some more pictures as the last time I was there it was night and I only had my phone with me.

Monkey Puzzle Pub (W5)

Monkey Puzzle Pub (W5)

Monkey Puzzle Pub (W5)

Monkey Puzzle Trees Seen - 52       Monkey Puzzle Trees Yet To See - 15

Another Monkey Puzzle Blog & A Site Update

Having just discovered one Monkey Puzzle blog I found through it another that is dedicated to listing Monkey Puzzle trees in Kent - Monkey Puzzle Tree Club - they have produced a book with photos and locations of 103 trees in Kent. I will be getting a copy but will first wait until after my birthday next month.

Anyone who has checked this blog before might have noticed a minor change to the site. I have added a link above to a companion blog I have just set up called The Monkey Puzzle Tree Nut - Monkey Map Catalogue. The inspiration comes from the brilliant Monkey Map catalogue site, it seemed like a good idea to have a place where people could see all the Monkey Puzzle trees I have seen in one easily accessible place, the built in template of Blogger is so much easier to use than my own 'Trees Seen So Far' page, which at some point in the future may be quietly retired. I have included a link back to the relevant blog post for each tree so that people can read a bit about how/when I first saw the tree in question.

Lastly I thought I'd share a picture Nathalie took of me when we visited Kew Gardens last year to see their magnificent Monkey Puzzles. I think it nicely sums up how nutty I can get when surrounded by my favourite trees!

A True Monkey Puzzle Nut!

Monkey Puzzle Trees Seen - 48       Monkey Puzzle Trees Yet To See - 15

Thanks To The Monkey Map It Looks Like I'm Going To Be Very Busy!

Whilst Googling the other day for information about the history of Monkey Puzzle trees I stumbled across across the Monkey Map, a site set up with the intention of mapping all the Monkey Puzzle trees out there! The site was created and is managed by a true Monkey Puzzle nut, Sarah Horton who hails from Liverpool. Sara tells me that at last count she has catalogued, with the help of a host of fellow Monkey Puzzle tree enthusiasts, over 850 trees! I immediately offered all the trees I've seen for inclusion on her map and will be keeping her updated of every tree I see in future.

She has also created a wonderful interactive catalogue that can be found here. As the site catalogues all the Monkey Puzzle trees submitted I will be adopting their references for all the trees that I have seen. As an example the first Monkey Puzzle tree I saw at Monkey World has the catalogue reference BH1, I have now updated my site with this reference.

Whilst over the moon to have found more of my fellow travellers it obviously creates a small dilemma for me when it comes to my count of Monkey Puzzle trees I've yet to see. If I include all the wonderful trees catalogued by the Monkey Map that count should now be over 800 strong! However, having given the matter some thought I have decided only to include trees my friends and family point out to me on this list, whilst I am no doubt going to be using the Monkey Map as a invaluable resource when it comes to seeing new trees.

The thought of having such a brilliant source of where Monkey Puzzle trees can be found across the world at my fingertips is beyond my wildest dreams and has put the biggest smile on my face imaginable. I am in the debt of Sara and her 'agents' and thank you all from the bottom of my Monkey Puzzle Nut's heart!

Monkey Puzzle Trees Seen - 48       Monkey Puzzle Trees Yet To See - 15

Lots More Trees To See

I realised the other day that I have, over time, discovered the whereabouts of a number of Monkey Puzzle trees which I haven't yet mentioned on my blog. So to correct that anomaly I've decided to compile a list and add them to the Map Of My Quest so that I do not inadvertently forget where these wonderful trees can be found.

• Beauport Golf Course (St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex) - according to my research Beauport Park was the location of a Victorian arboretum that had a number of Monkey Puzzle trees - according to contemporary accounts there were 27 trees "on an area 102 paces round". Sadly most of them have disappeared but there is definitely at least one still standing on the golf course, hole number 12 is actually called the Monkey Puzzle.
• Bedgebury Pinetum (Goudhurst, Kent) - it should come as no surprise that the Forestry Commission's National Pinetum at Bedgebury has a number of Monkey Puzzle trees.
• Bicton College (East Budleigh, Devon) - some of the very first Monkey Puzzle trees grown in the UK were planted here, from the seeds supplied by Victorian plant hunter William Lobb in 1843 - video.
• Pencarrow House (Bodmin, Cornwall) - The tree here is famous for being the origin of the name Monkey Puzzle tree. Noted barrister Charles Austin remarked upon touching its prickly leaves “It would puzzle a monkey”. His oft-repeated witticism gave the tree its common name of Monkey Puzzle.
• Biddulph Grange (Biddulph, Staffordshire) - an incredible pinetum created by James Bateman which featured in episode 3 of the BBC's 'British Gardens In Time'. The Monkey Puzzles were also from Lobb's original seeds.
• Felbridge, Surrey - one of the largest Monkey Puzzles in Surrey.
• Castlestead (Bewerley, North Yorkshire) - not exactly sure where this one is.
• Teignmouth, Devon - again the location is secret but a large tree to be seen.

The following three are all part of the iCONic Project - "a globally important mission to protect some of the world's most threatened trees from extinction.  iCONic has been established to help save some of the world's most threatened conifers by collecting seeds and creating safe-havens for young trees in the forests, gardens and estates of Perthshire, Big Tree Country."

• Scone Place (Perth, Scotland) -
• Dunkeld Hilton (Dunkeld Perthshire) -
• Gleneagles (Auchterarder, Perthshire) - in the grounds of the famous hotel and golf course.

Whilst researching this piece I came across the wonderful archive of both the Kew Bulletin and Gardener's Chronicle that can be found at the magnificent Biodiversity Heritage Library. Anyone interested in the history of plants and horticulture should check it out.

Monkey Puzzle Trees Seen - 48       Monkey Puzzle Trees Yet To See - 15