Trees in full leaf

The Trees of Rosemount Park

 

Introduction

The aim of this leaflet is to guide the reader on a journey through the trees of Rosemount Park. The collection is moving towards completion, with Scottish native specimens augmented by naturalised, choice exotic and ancient types of trees, whilst retaining the existing character of the park.

History

The park was part of the land of Rosemount House with some of the trees dating back to this time. During the 20th century it was part of a dairy farm. Importantly, it also contains the Friars Well, the source for the town’s Cross Well. Nearby there is archaeological evidence of occupation in the Neolithic /Bronze Age period, including the finding of a bronze spearhead. Next to the park is Rosemount Wood which is the site of the Carmelite Friary (c1280-c1560). Hidden away on the south side of the Union Canal, the park covers an area of about 3 hectares and contains in the region of 300 trees. Being within the Upper Linlithgow Conservation Area, this gives some legal protection for the trees.
There is a line of mixed conifer and deciduous trees along the western side of the park, with a Sycamore dating back to c1800. Some large old specimens feature in the centre of the park, including Beech, Oak, Sycamore, Ash, Lime, Horse Chestnut and a Field Maple. Also to be found are two small copses containing large conifers and deciduous trees, with attractive Scots pine and Corsican pine as well as tall Silver Birch and Whitebeam. There is an impressive line of pink and white flowering Cherries and a relatively recent planting of Limes, Red Oak and Field Maples. Nearby is the location of the lost arboretum of Rockville but there is still an impressive Cedar of Lebanon, as well as a Swamp Cypress, visible from the park.

Further Planting 

In recent years, Rosemount has lost some magnificent beeches and other old trees. In the Autumn of 2019, West Lothian Council replanted these lost trees.
In the light of the already impressive collection of Scottish native trees, numbering over 30 types, Burgh Beautiful has continued to progress to completion of the park’s collection to feature alongside some non-native, but naturalised specimens. The arboretum now contains three of the eight rarest trees found naturally worldwide. The Wollemia nobilis, regarded as critically endangered and only discovered in 1994, Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo) and the Monkey Puzzle, helping to conserve these species.
Mindful of conserving the character of the park, including the sledging runs, considered additional planting to complete the park as a community arboretum is taking place. This involves planting a small number of primitive and long-lived trees such as the Gingko, Dawn Redwood and Giant Sequoia. Additionally, there is a small number of exotic and ornamental trees being planted which give the park a member of each of the tree families. Further trees include other long-lived specimens together with the need for succession planting of trees such as Ash and old Scots Pine which, in time, will be lost. An evergreen Holm Oak, suitable for a changing climate, has been planted to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. This will in time, replace a nearby Ash which will be lost to disease.
Selected examples of the trees are labelled to include both the scientific and common names, together with their origin. Some of the examples carry temporary labels until they are large enough for the standard label.
The canal-side Rosemount Park is known as a ‘hidden gem’ of Linlithgow and provides both an environmental and educational resource.
By reference to the list at the end of the leaflet, you are invited to take a stroll round the park, commencing at the Paper-Bark Birch at the entrance off Friar’s Loan (Friar’s Brae) and following a clockwise direction, finishing at the Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo).
West Lothian Council and Buglife are developing areas of wildflower meadows with a mix selected for being nectar-rich. The recent installation of an interpretive panel in the Park adds to educational opportunities and appreciation of both wildflower and insect identification.

 

Triangle Community Wood & Tree Sponsorship


A further Burgh Beautiful tree project is underway at Kettlestoun Mains, west of the Leisure Centre. Almost 1,400 trees have been donated by the Woodland Trust and, with the help of members of the public, planting took place in the Autumns of 2019, 2020 and 2021. Maintenance work will continue to protect the trees from deer and to establish pathways.
A Tree Sponsorship project was launched in late 2020. Funds raised are shared between Linlithgow Community Development Trust (a charity including Transition Linlithgow) which leases the land from West Lothian Council, and Burgh Beautiful (part of Linlithgow Burgh Trust). A promising uptake from the local community allows further planting and maintenance for the benefit of future generations.
If you would like to help with any of our activities, please contact Burgh Beautiful http://lbt.scot/burgh-beautiful

 

THE TREES OF ROSEMOUNT PARK, LINLITHGOW – 2022

 

 Paper-Bark Birch   America    Betula papyrifera  
 Van Volxem’s Maple   Caucasus   Acer velutinum var vanvolxemii  
 Row of Ornamental Cherries  E Asia  Prunus spp.  
 Common Hawthorn   Scotland  Crataegus monogyna  
 European Larch   Alps  Larix decidua  
 Cappadocian Maple   Caucasus  Acer cappadocicum  
 Douglas Fir   N America   Pseudotsuga menziesii  
 Monkey Puzzle   Chile   Araucaria araucana  
 Swamp Cypress   Texas   Taxodium distichum  
 Red Alder *   N America   Alnus rubra   in the well stream
 Aspen *   Scotland  Populus tremula  in the well stream
 Common Hornbeam  Scotland  Carpinus betulus  
 Elder  Scotland   Sambucus nigra  
 Downy Birch  Scotland  Betula pubescens  
 Holm Oak   Mediterranean  Quercus ilex  
 Common Rowan *   Scotland  Sorbus aucuparia  
 Irish Yew   Ireland   Taxus baccata ‘Fastigiata’  
 Great Sallow *   Scotland  Salix caprea   by the Union canal bank
 White Poplar *   Scotland  Populus alba   by the Union canal bank
 White Willow *   Scotland  Salix alba   by the Union canal bank
 Black Poplar *   Scotland  Populus nigra   by the Union canal bank
 Common Osier   Scotland  Salix viminalis   by the Union canal bank
 Common Ash   Scotland  Fraxinus excelsior  
 Hiba   Japan   Thujopsis dolabrata  
 Western Red Cedar   N America   Thuja plicata  
 Cider Gum *   SE Australia   Eucalyptus gunnii  
 Japanese Pagoda Tree   China   Styphnolobium japonicum  
 Black Mulberry   SW Asia   Morus nigra  
 Crab Apple   Scotland  Malus sylvestris  
 European Pine (Scots)   Scotland   Pinus sylvestris   in Southern copse
 Wild Cherry   Scotland  Prunus avium   in Southern copse
 Corsican Pine   Corsica   Pinus nigra ssp laricio   in Southern copse
 Common Whitebeam   Scotland  Sorbus aria   in Southern copse
 Silver Birch   Scotland   Betula pendula   in Southern copse
 Giant Sequoia *   Western USA   Sequoiadendron giganteum  
 Common Beech   Scotland  Fagus sylvatica  
 Dawn Redwood *   China   Metasequoia glyptostroboides  
 Turkey Oak   Turkey   Quercus cerris  
 Small-Leaved Lime   Scotland  Tilia cordata  
 Sycamore   Naturalised   Acer pseudoplatanus  
 Horse Chestnut   Naturalised   Aesculus hippocastanum  
 Common Alder   Scotland  Alnus glutinosa  
 Sweet Chestnut   S Europe   Castanea sativa  
 Sessile Oak   Scotland  Quercus petraea  
 Common Oak   Scotland  Quercus robur  
 Field Maple   Scotland  Acer campestre  
 Red Horse Chestnut   N America   Aesculus x carnea  
 Common Yew *   Scotland  Taxus baccata  
 Common Holly   Scotland  Ilex aquifolium  
 Common Juniper   Scotland  Juniperus communis  
 Western Hemlock   N America   Tsuga heterophylla  
 Cut-Leaved Elder   Scotland  Sambucus nigra laciniata  
 Cedar of Lebanon *   Lebanon   Cedrus libani  
 Lombardy Poplar   C Asia   Populus nigra Italica  
 Dog Rose   Scotland  Rosa canina  
 Red Oak   N America   Quercus rubra  
 Sessile Oak Hybrid  Scotland  Quercus petraea sp  
 Willow-Leaved Pear   Caucasus   Pyrus salicifolia  
 Norway Maple   Europe   Acer platanoides  
 Himalayan Hazel   Himalayas   Corylus ferox  
 Wollemi Pine   Australia   Wollemia nobilis  
 Maidenhair Tree   China   Ginkgo biloba  

 

* Denotes temporary label 

 

CLIMATE CHANGE MATTERS, WITH TREES AND WILD FLOWERS BEING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT