Tree Trail at Duns Public Park

Duns Public Park is well worth a visit not just to look at the attractive and various tree species but also to see the John Duns Scotus statue, the unusual benches and the stately park gates.

The Tree Trail was set up with assistance from Duns Primary School children.

1. From Duns Market Square turn on to South Street and after 50m turn left into Blinkbonnie Lane. At the end of Blinkbonnie Lane look out for lime trees with heart shaped leaves and red buds. There are also sycamore trees which are a type of maple. If you find a sycamore seed, you could throw it in the air and watch it twirl down like a helicopter.

2. With the main grass area of the park to your left, follow the tarmac path around the park. Look out for evergreen yew trees. There are some Irish yew with pointed tops. There are also some different types of holly trees. Look out for one with yellow berries. Further round the trail look out for a holly with variegated leaves, the leaves have a white edge. Both holly and yew have male and female trees. The male trees do not bear berries.

3. Look out for conkers under the horse chestnut trees. If you look at the branches you may see a horse shoe mark where last year’s leaf has been. Another way of identifying this tree is that the buds are very sticky.

4. Look out for a weeping ash tree. Ash trees have black buds. To the right of the ash, look for the Sitka spruce. This tree has sharp needles and the branches look blue green from below. Sitka spruce is commonly grown in forests throughout Scotland for timber and paper. This tree originates from Sitka in Alaska.

5. Bear left, keeping on the main tarmac path. In the wet area on your right are alder, grey willow and downy birch planted in Tree Week 2005 to form a wet woodland area. The Local Biodiversity Action Plan Urban Habitat Working Group was assisted by the council’s Parks and Open Spaces section, Duns Community Council and the Lanark Lodge day centre. In November 2006, most of the Primary 3 class in Duns Primary School were taller than these planted trees.

6. In this area between the hawthorn hedge and the path are some ash, lime, sycamore and field maple trees. In the hedge is the base of an elm tree. Small elm branches have grown back after Dutch elm disease has killed the main trunk of the tree.

7. Silver birch can be seen with its silvery white bark. Other trees to spot include gean (wild cherry), flowering cherry, whitebeam, and crab apple.

8. Continue past the set of gates on your right and enter an open area with bench seats. This area is full of colourful trees and is worth investigating. There are evergreen cypress trees which have scale like leaves on flattened twigs. Walk up to the main gates by the war memorial and the John Duns Scotus statue. Look around this area for more trees including lime, beech, copper beech, willow, poplar, nootka cypress, and oak. How many different trees did you count in the park?