The stunning, historic landscape of the South Park is the setting for Reinventing Borde Hill, our ambitious new project launching in 2027. This quiet expanse offers a glimpse into our Estate’s past, present, and future. Here, we take a look at a few of the special trees that have made their mark on the landscape:
Acer campestre (Field Maple)
Dinosaur Wood is an area of ancient woodland, and is home to many ancient native trees such this Acer campestre – more commonly known as a Field Maple. This majestic specimen has been left to grow quietly for hundred of years at the edge of the woodland. Classified as a veteran on the Woodland Trust’s ancient tree inventory, is likely to be at least partially hollow, making it an ideal haven for woodland biodiversity. Evidence of the elusive dormouse was found around the base of this tree in the form of a nibbled nut. Read more in our earlier Journal post here.
Quercus variabilis (Chinese Cork Oak)
As well as ancient natives, Dinosaur Wood is also home to a wide range of trees from around the world – sought and planted by the Plant Hunters in the late 19th and early 20th century. This Chinese Cork Oak is one such example, nestling happily next to the ancient oaks and old hazel coppice stools. The Latin name for this tree is Quercus variabilis, which is thought to refer to the “variable” nature of the leaf shape. A note in the diary of Colonel Stephenson Robert Clarke (1862-1948) records that this tree was purchased from the nursery of Carl Ludwig Sprenger in Naples around the turn of the century, and a delightful addendum records that “on 9th February 1936 I found this tree developing bark of cork”. The tree is now a Champion (the largest known specimen of its species) within the UK, having resided at Borde Hill for over 100 years.
Quercus robur (English Oak)
Throughout the South Park, there are several huge English Oaks looming over the landscape. Also known as the Pedunculate Oak, these veteran trees are beautiful examples of Parkland standards, and also have immense biodiversity value. Elsewhere on the Estate, younger oaks and other trees sometimes require felling as part of our essential woodland management approach. We work hard to ensure that timber resulting from woodland management is used on the Estate where possible, and our goal is for the South Park’s new Eco Lodge (launching in 2027) to be built entirely from Estate timber.
South Park is a place where native oaks over 250 years old share the landscape with rare exotics – a living archive shaped by global exploration and local stewardship.
Join horticulturalist Peter Mills as he explores some of the remarkable trees of South Park in our latest video:
