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Acer pseudoplatanus – Sycamore Maple
Botanical Profile:
• Common name: Sycamore (not to be confused with American sycamore)
• Scientific name: Acer pseudoplatanus
• Family: Sapindaceae
• Origin: Native to Central and Southern Europe; naturalised across the UK
• Type: Deciduous broadleaf tree
Key Characteristics:
• Height/Spread: Up to 35m tall; broad domed canopy
• Leaves: 5-lobed, dark green with serrated edges; paler and downy underneath
• Flowers: Small green-yellow, in drooping panicles (spring)
• Fruit: Paired winged seeds (samaras), dispersed by wind
• Bark: Smooth grey when young; flakes into plates with age
Ecological and Practical Value:
• Pollinators: Nectar source for bees
• Timber: Pale, fine-grained wood used in musical instruments and furniture
• Resilience: Tolerates pollution, wind, salt spray — often planted in exposed areas
Issues:
• Invasiveness: Can self-seed prolifically
• Sap dripping: Often hosts aphids which produce honeydew, leading to sticky surfaces
• Not a native species – debated ecological value in ancient woodland settings
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Historic Note: The Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Tree
Historical Significance:
• Location: Tolpuddle, Dorset, England
• Event: Six farm labourers formed a friendly society in 1834 to protest poor wages; transported to Australia as punishment under laws against secret oaths
• Tree type: The Tolpuddle Sycamore – a mature Acer pseudoplatanus – marks the place where the men are said to have met
Legacy:
• The tree stands as a living memorial to trade unionism and workers’ rights
• Each year, the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival celebrates this history, with the tree as a symbolic backdrop
Cultural Status:
• Sometimes referred to as “the most famous tree in trade union history”
• Protected and celebrated by labour organisations and heritage groups