The loss of a magnificent willow tree in Wembley Park comes as a sad shock

The magnificent willow next to 6 Greenhill Way, Wembley Park - as it was

Wembley Park has a considerable number of willow trees that give the name to Forty Willows GP Surgery and The Willows Children's Centre in Chalkhill amongst the willow related place names.  A lovely specimen that was in the grounds of the former Brent Town Hall was removed by the Lycee, in 2017 possibly after storm damage:

Before

After removal

Today, having been away for a month I was shocked to see today that the wonderful willow in Greenhill Way (Top photograph) was a shadow of its former self. I believe it might had had a TPO (Tree Preservation Order) but the jagged edges at the end of the branches seem to indicate storm damage but I would be grateful for any information from neighbours. This was a real landmark tree and it is  sad to see it gone.

Further afield there are willows in the Open Space in Monks Park near the River Brent and another in Neasden Lane on the Chancel House site is to be preserved when the North Brent Secondary School is built.

 

Chancel House willow, Neasden Lane

 

The willow maze in the woods

Close by in Fryent Country Park (behind the Salmon Street houses) there is a little known willow tree maze planted by the Barn Hill Conservation Group  decades ago. Now nicely mature I have lost a few primary classes and teachers on its leafy paths over the years. 

Artificial lawn replaces Wembley Lycee willow

July 21st 2017

September 2nd 2017

When I reported on the demise of the magnificent willow that use to grace the Marriage Garden at the former Brent Town Hall LINK a couple of sceptics were doubtful that it had come down in the storm as a Lycee staff member had told me.

Over the summer holiday the area has been landscaped with artificial grass and some kind of wooden construction is in process.

I leave you to draw your own conclusions.

Before the willow came down

The demise of one of Wembley's wonderful willows

Trees are too often an undervalued part of our local heritage and personal histories. The willow above, in the Marriage Garden at Brent (formerly Wembley) Town Hall, probably appears in thousands of wedding albums across generations.

According to the Lycee security officer I spoke to the tree came down in the recent storm.

After the Town Hall was sold-off by Brent Council to the Lycee International des Londres Winston Churchill it became part of the children's playground and doubtless figured large in their creative play and exploration.

The storm occurred after the school broke up for the summer holiday so children will return to find a large gap in their playground. This was the scene today.

Wembley is well endowed with mature willows with local doctors' surgeries and playcentres named after them.

There is a magnificent specimen, in need of a trim, just behind the Lycee in Greenhill Way:

If you would like one of your pictures of the Marriage Garden willow published please send in jpeg or png format to me at martintinrfrancis@virginmedia.com