This tree is a prominent feature of Newtown town centre. The black poplar is one of Britain’s rarest and most endangered native species in uncultivated environments, with fewer than 7,000 in Britain. Rarely can it be said that a tree has moved from one side of the river to another. Following great floods in 1960 and 1964, flood prevention works diverted the course of the river so the tree originally on north riverbank is now on the south.
Later, after representation by the town council, it survived plans to fell and tarmac the site. In 2016 the town council took action to preserve the gene line by propagating cuttings with co-operation of a local garden centre – a story of survival.
link to the Arb. report for this tree https://newtowntc.sharepoint.com/sites/NewtownCouncil/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FNewtownCouncil%2FShared%20Documents%2FOffice%2FServices%20of%20Council%2FBlack%20Poplar%2FSurvey%202020%2FNewtown%20Black%20Poplar%20Report_re-issue%20for%20website%20-%20200820%20-reducedsize%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FNewtownCouncil%2FShared%20Documents%2FOffice%2FServices%20of%20Council%2FBlack%20Poplar%2FSurvey%202020&p=true
This tree is a prominent feature of Newtown town centre. The black poplar is one of Britain’s rarest and most endangered native species in uncultivated environments, with fewer than 7,000 in Britain. Rarely can it be said that a tree has moved from one side of the river to another. Following great floods in 1960 and 1964, flood prevention works diverted the course of the river so the tree originally on north riverbank is now on the south. Later, after representation by the town council, it survived plans to fell and tarmac the site. In 2016 the town council took action to preserve the gene line by propagating cuttings with co-operation of a local garden centre – a story of survival.
link to the Arb. report for this tree https://newtowntc.sharepoint.com/sites/NewtownCouncil/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FNewtownCouncil%2FShared%20Documents%2FOffice%2FServices%20of%20Council%2FBlack%20Poplar%2FSurvey%202020%2FNewtown%20Black%20Poplar%20Report_re-issue%20for%20website%20-%20200820%20-reducedsize%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FNewtownCouncil%2FShared%20Documents%2FOffice%2FServices%20of%20Council%2FBlack%20Poplar%2FSurvey%202020&p=true