White willow

Scientific name: Salix alba

Family: Salicaceae

What3Words location: arena.firms.asking

Origin: non-native

Maximum height: 25 metres

Lives for: 150 years or more

This row of white willow trees has been pollarded, a method of pruning that keeps trees smaller than they might naturally grow, stimulates the growth of news shoots and prolongs their life. Willows were also once the emblem of the broken hearted. Anyone who had been deserted by love would wear a piece of willow on their clothes to share their heartache with others.