Barlow Institute Centenary Tree

As part of the centenary celebrations at the Barlow Institute, our Society offered to arrange a celebrity lecture at our meeting on 18th March 2009. This was to be given by Roy Lancaster O.B.E. the renowned plant hunter and television and radio gardener. He is also a very proud Boltonian and was delighted to be invited to help the Society plant a commemorative tree in the grounds of the Barlow Institute to celebrate its centenary.

We sought his advice on an appropriate tree for our area and he recommended a Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ (or Worplesdon Sweet Gum Tree) which could cope with our wet and clay soil. It is a broadly conical, deciduous tree. Its star-shaped green glossy leaves are reminiscent of some maples. They have 5-7 narrow lobes and turn to striking apricot-oranges and claret red from September to display fabulous Autumn colour.

Roy is a very practical gardener and gave a master class in how to plant a tree. He also talked about the tree’s native area in North America and revealed that the gum made from the sap was mixed with tobacco and smoked by the Incas during their ceremonies.

The tree and commemorative plaque may be viewed near the children’s play area at the rear of the Barlow Institute. 

Roy Lancaster planting Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ as part of the Barlow Institute Centenary Celebrations 2009

  Spring 2013

In late May/early June 2013, around the time the grass was cut at the back of The Barlow for the first time this year by local authority workmen, the tree and its weak protective fence suffered some major damage, with the commemorative plaque being totally destroyed.

Despite our best attempts to get some information as to how the incident occurred, the workmen denied all knowledge and firmly placed the blame on "occasional anti-social behaviour in the locality".

Any contribution to the restoration of the site was therefore out of the question and it was eventually left to the Society to make good the damage.

  September 2013 Update

After completing the back edge of the new access path in The Barlow flower bed on 25th September Phil (Broughton) and David (Mason) set to work on repairing the damage to the Centenary Tree.

Despite the battering the tree had taken earlier in the year, its growth did not seem to have been affected and autumn colours were beginning to show through quite strongly. With the soil around the tree cleared of weeds, a much more robust stake was hammered into the ground and, with a little persuasion, the tree was brought back to an upright position.

A strong protective fence was then erected around the front of the tree and the privet hedge at the rear was trimmed to give some much needed space and a little more light.

The tree was left looking much happier than its previous sorry state. A new commerative plaque will complete the job and hopefully the "vandals" will not find such an easy target next time.