Abney’s Oldest Trees

Event Information

Conservation Arboriculturalist and Abney expert Russell Miller will be leading a tour of Abney’s oldest and rarest trees. The talk will focus on the survivors from the 1840 Loddiges Arboretum.

When created Abney Park Cemetery was one of the world’s largest collections of exotic trees. In 1840 the famous Loddiges Nursery planted specimens of every tree in their collection. The 2500 species of trees and shrubs at Abney rivalled the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew. Most have been lost to the axe (for more graves) or disease but around 20 remain. Some of these survivors are so rare they do not have modern names.

Contributors

Russel Miller

Russell is an arboricultural and ecological consultant. He teaches and advises on diverse issues such as: managing old trees, tree pathology & physiology, decaying wood invertebrates and fungi, bees and other pollinators, and tree establishment. He has 20 years experience in leading guided walks, nature connection, community engagement, managing volunteers and wildlife photography.

Russell chaired the Ancient Tree Forum (2016-2021); founded Hackney's multi-award winning Tree Musketeers (1999-2021); co-founded Sustainable Hackney (2008-2016); helped found The Orchard Project (2009); and worked with pioneering Scottish rewilding charity Trees for Life (2000-2018).

Russell is also a political activist. His first career was in human rights law dealing with miscarriages of justice.

Twitter: @treeruss Instagram: @tree_russ