Otley Chevin Forest Park

Otley Chevin Forest Park - ‘A look at Conifers’

Saturday 15th April 2023

Leader: Bruce Brown

Number of attendees: 22

We met in the Quarry Car Park on the East Chevin Road. Bruce introduced the walk before setting out. He explained that the trees in the Chevin Forest were mainly native, common species. However, a number of specimen trees have also been planted increasing the interest of the site. Bruce has been studying trees in the park since around 2008 during which time some of the trees have grown so that their leaves are out of reach, making them difficult to study.

During the walk Bruce introduced us to around 30 trees. I have picked out a few to talk about and include some of Bruce’s ID tips.

Our walk took place entirely in the part of the park to the east of East Chevin Road. We crossed East Chevin Road from the Car Park, then entered the woods and our education started immediately.

The first thing to strike me was the red bark of the many Scot’s Pines (Pinus sylvestris) near the entrance. Bruce discussed the features of the Scot’s Pine; the needles in fascicles of 2, the red bark in the upper part of the tree, and the greyish look to the leaves.

The next tree we met was a Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata). The leaves are glossy and in flat sprays (they look like they have been ironed!). They also exude a fruity smell when crushed.

A large Leyland Cyprus (Cupressus × leylandii) loomed over us as we walked along the path. The leaves on this tree are not in flat sprays, some are at right-angles to others, giving them more of a 3D look. Bruce commented that he would like to show this tree to anyone considering buying Leyland Cyprus for hedging, just to show them how large they grow!

Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) is lovely tree to look at. The things to look for are the different size needles (some held upside down), and the small hanging cones.

Around this time, we left the path to see some of the trees away from the path. We were dodging trees, walking through brambles and slipping on muddy slopes.

Among the many pines we were shown was a Jeffrey’s Pine (Pinus jeffreyii). These have their needles in fascicles of 3. The canopy of the tree is quite striking to look at as the needle bunches at the end of the branches give it palm-like look. The cones of the tree are large and have backward pointing pickles on the scales; a good ID feature.

There are some Grand Firs (Abies grandis) in the park. These trees really do live up to their name. Apart from how grand they look, one ID feature to look for is that the needles are twisted from their point of origin (look at the attachment to the shoot) to form leaves in one plane.

My personal favourite of the day was a Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika), recognisable by its narrow form, and the downward sloping branches with ascending tips (in the manner of a Horsechestnut).

Just before 1pm we sat down for lunch, many members sitting precariously on a long procumbent tree trunk. Following lunch, we carried on in the same way, looking at more trees. Shortly after this came a little adventure with a drop down a steep muddy slope, a river (a stream really!) crossing, and an ascent of another equally muddy slope.

We had rewards for these efforts. A nice Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) was seen. This tree, in its native California, grows to be the tallest in the world. We can recognise them by their red spongy bark, and their 2 types of leaves, (needles, and scale leaves).

Lawson Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) trees are currently in flower. The flowers are very small, red, and on the very tips of the shoots.

We looked at the confusingly named Pencil Cedar which is really a Juniper (Juniperus virginiana) and is not pencil shaped! The name ‘Pencil’ is down to the wood being one of the few species suitable for making pencils. The leaves are in pairs, whereas in most Junipers they are in threes. There was quite a lot of yellow or orange fungi growing on this which Andy Woodall has identified as Juniper Rust (Gymnosporangium clavariiforme).

The last tree to mention was a Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora). The tree has a delicate look to it. The leaves are in fascicles of 5, the smallish cones have large scales which open while still on the tree. The seeds are large, though hard to find as most have been eaten.

Many thanks to Bruce for passing on the benefit of his years of studying these trees and leading the walk. We all had a very enjoyable day and learned a lot about coniferous trees.

Text and Photos by Ian Dyson