GET THE TRAIL MAP HERE

Barshaw Park was created from open farmland in two main stages. First the hilly eastern part was planted up as private parkland for Barshaw House from 1800. Then from 1914 onwards the western part and the golf course was planted with trees, and the whole estate was turned into a public park. So today there are trees of all ages up to 230 years, and of many different types.

Using this page and the map found here, you can identify the more common British trees, noticing some of their distinguishing features, and get to know some less common non-native trees. The trail points to some areas of trees that tell us a little about the history of the Barshaw Park. Each type of tree included in the trail is marked by a number on the map.

If you want to follow the map in order, start from the car park by the cafe. The trail goes round the hill, with a visit to the walled Peace Garden, and then down to the flatter part of the park.

A two-metre high Beech hedge [1], planted in 1995, borders the boundary of the park. Small beech trees keep their copper- coloured leaves throughout the winter, making them ideal for hedges.

Follow the driveway up to Barshaw House, lined by trees planted when the house was enlarged in the 1860s. They are mainly Limes [2] which have untidy shoots about the base of their trunks, and Horse Chestnuts [3] with their large five fingered leaves, creamy candle flowers in spring and conkers in the autumn. There are also several mature Beech [1] trees, Sycamore [4] and a few Oak [5]. Sycamore trees often have pinkish patches on the trunks. Beech trees usually have smooth trunks.

Just past the former outdoor theatre, latterly the Nature Corner, take the right fork and continue past Barshaw House. Opposite the entrance, a path leads down past the Georgian stables (now a scout hall) to the original East Lodge House, on Glasgow Road. This path also is lined with mature Beech, Sycamore and Lime trees. Ignore this path and go straight on to Blairmore Avenue.

A few metres along, take the road on the left that leads past council yards to the walled garden. On the left, you pass a row of varied Maple [6] trees, with very pretty leaves, similar to but smaller than Sycamore leaves.

As you approach the walled garden, you pass through a glade shaded by evergreens: female Holly [7] (with berries) and Yew [8] trees. These were probably planted as a hedge to border the grounds of the house, but they have now grown very tall. Go into the walled garden and turn right. There is a delightful variety of flowering trees in the garden, including Magnolia [9]. Some of the trees have a Japanese theme: Ginkgo [10] and the Handkerchief

Tree [11] along the east wall, and a group of Japanese Maple [12] in the middle of the south facing wall. These were planted in 1986 when the garden was dedicated as a Peace Garden, and they commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Leaving the garden, turn right. Just past the wall on your right, note the two rows of mature Beech and Lime trees, which stand to the west of the walled garden. These trees were planted as a shelter belt, to protect the delicate plants in the garden from the prevailing west wind.

Head west; at the junction with the north-south path, you have a choice: turn left and climb the hill towards the viewpoint. Behind you stands a line of mature Oak trees, including several Turkey Oak. These old trees form a shelter belt to the main Barshaw House.

Alternatively, turn right and follow the path anti-clockwise round the perimeter of the park, next to the golf course. The young trees bordering the golf course are mainly Sycamore and Lime. Now take the first left turn and head back towards the cafe and park entrance. On your right stands a cluster of trees next to the model railway line: Chestnuts, groups of Crack Willow [13], whose tips turn distinctively orange in winter, and one Manna Ash [14] near the stone memorial. A group of young Birch [15] trees lies just inside the rail track, identified by the beautiful white markings on their trunks.

Complete the circuit by returning to the car park. If you wish to turn right at this point and follow the path to the west corner of the park, you will see three Corstorphine Sycamores [16] bordering the entrance at Arkleston Road. Their leaves are a bright yellow for couple of months in early spring and then go green for the rest of the summer.