A WALKING trail, taking visitors on a tour of the Lake Pleasure Grounds in Warminster with information about 18 varieties of trees that grow there, includes trees which are so rare they were once only known through fossils.

Mayor of Warminster, Cllr Tony Nicklin, unveiled the trail and a booklet which will guide visitors around it in a ceremony yesterday (Thursday) afternoon.

People can enjoy guided tours of the Tree Trail on Saturday March 23 at 10am and again at noon, starting from the Pavilion Café.

Following the success of its Blue Plaque Trail, the new free Tree Trail, organised by the town council which now maintains the Pleasure Grounds, takes visitors on a one-kilometre walk.

With the help of a colourful printed booklet featuring many images of trees and wildlife, visitors can learn about the different and beautiful trees that live around the lake.

The Tree Trail is full of interesting facts about 18 different species of tree that grow in the Lake Pleasure Grounds.

Warminster town clerk, Fiona Fox, said: “We are indebted to Harriet James, who has lived and worked in Warminster for 15 years.

“Harriet has a lifelong interest in natural history and realised what a rich and special habitat we have in the park and in the neighbouring nature reserve which leads on down to the River Wylye.

“She researched and wrote the Tree Trail for Warminster Town Council. It is packed full of fascinating facts about the flora and fauna in the park and will be a great asset for anyone who wants to get out into the fresh air and learn more about the trees and wildlife that thrive in this area.”

In Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the trees started walking and it is true that in the case of rare Dawn Redwoods, the roots have ‘knees’ which can grow out of the water and heave up paths.

The Tree Trail includes a row of three Dawn Redwoods right by the water. These are rare deciduous conifers, like the Swamp Cypresses also on the Tree Trail, which are their closest living relatives.

The redwoods come from central China and were only identified and named by two pioneering Chinese botanists in the 1940s. Seeds were then distributed throughout North America and Europe.

Ms Fox added: “Before that Dawn Redwoods were only known through fossils up to 100 million years old. How they came to be planted in the park is something of a mystery and we’d love to find out - if anyone has any information about this please get in touch.”

Dawn Redwoods can grow to 60m tall. Their cones and leaves are similar to the Swamp Cypress and the leaves turn a reddish brown before falling.

In the wild, the Dawn Redwood is now restricted to just a few scattered places in China. The species is classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as endangered because of intensive rice cultivation.

The Tree Trail also features native British species, including English oak, elm, common beech, alder and white willow, as well as giving information on the small mammals, birds and insects that form part of the fascinating eco-system in the Lake Pleasure Grounds.

The Tree Trail is perfect for all the family to enjoy and there are plenty of other attractions at the Lake Pleasure Ground including the Pavilion Café, the boating lake, a children’s playground and the Trim Trail.

Copies of the booklet are available at the Pavilion Café, Warminster Civic Centre and the library. It will also be available to download from www.warminster-tc.gov.uk/index.php