Avenues

Avenue of Horse Chestnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum), Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire. Photographed in 1895 (c) NMR The idea of the avenue dates back to the sixteenth century where they were used to impose a geometrical design on the landscape. Favouring a natural style of planting during the middle of the eighteenth century, the likes of Capability Brown discarded the formality of avenues from his designed landscapes; preferring an irregular style of planting. It was the Victorian landscape designs that re-introduced avenues.

Avenue of Holm Oaks (Quercus ilex) - Osborne House, Ilse of Wight © English Heritage/Will Salvetti Usually formed of lime or chestnut, though many other species have been used, such as the avenue of Holm Oaks at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight or the avenue of Monkey Puzzles at Bicton College in Devon, they might be several kilometres in length or even longer.

Avenues at Risk?
English Heritage and the Tree Advice Trust are holding a seminar on avenues in order to develop a better understanding between various interests involved in management of avenues for everyone evolved with them.

For more information on avenues contact Tree Advice Trust Website.