London Plane

The streets of London are planted with London Planes. Massive great things, the roots of which erupt through pavements, penetrate underground pipework and fudge up building foundations. So why are there so many planted on South London suburban streets?

Their camouflage style bark absorbs air pollution. And the bark constantly peels off, preventing the absorption of the nasty pollutants by the rest of the tree. Because of the high pollutant content of the bark it is advisable not to lick the tree or feed the bark to your tortoise. I don't know if you were going to? But don't.

We went to Dennis Severs' house in Folgate Street, E1 today: a wonderfully atmospheric journey back to the eighteenth century when, maybe, this massive great plane outside my house was just a tiny sapling.

www.dennissevershouse.co.uk