A first sight of the larger of two London plane trees planted around 1660-63 by the Bishop of Lincoln, growing in the wooded area of the grounds of the former Bishop's Palace at Buckden.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The larger of the two London plane trees planted around 1660-63, photographed at the beginning of spring.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The bole of the larger London plane in the grounds of the former Bishop's Palace.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The huge London plane at Buckden sails above all the trees around it.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
Another view of this giant of the forest. It grows on a small mound at the end of a narrow lake.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The crown of the larger London plane in midsummer.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The vast crown of the larger London plane, seen at the end of winter, is host to a colony of rooks.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The central area of the larger London plane in winter, showing some of the many rooks’ nests among its branches.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The rookery at the top of the plane tree at Buckden Towers reminds me of seeing another colony of birds, the grey herons, that nest in plane trees surrounding this famous mosque in Istanbul.
Sultan Mosque, Eyüp, Istanbul. 1970s
The larger plane is a huge tree that dominates its surrounding woodland.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
A view showing the two London planes planted by Bishop Sanderson c.1660-63.
The larger plane is in the far distance. Between them is an oak tree coming into leaf, dating from c.1600.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The second London plane at Buckden Towers grows openly on the lawn together with the oak dating from c.1600.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The open grown London plane at Buckden in midday sunshine.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
The smaller of the two London planes at Buckden Towers, a large and beautiful tree, lit by early morning sun.
Buckden Towers, Cambridgeshire. 2012
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