There are a huge number of individual trees and a variety of species, throughout the park.

Native trees

These are trees that can be found growing naturally throughout Pittencrieff Park.

They are particularly beneficial to other species as they provide food, water and shelter for lichens, fungi, insects, birds and other animals.

Within the park there are many examples of native trees such as:

• Oak
• Horse Chestnut
• Ash
• Silver Birch
• Beech
• Scots Pine
• Holly

Specimen or ornamental trees

These are tree species that have been planted here in the park having been chosen because of their unusual or awe-inspiring properties.

Examples planted throughout Pittencrieff Park include:

• The Giant Redwood of California (Wellingtonia sequoiadendron giganteum):
  • can grow up to 85 metres tall and be 8 metres wide
    the oldest known living specimen was estimated to be around 3,500 years
  • the only naturally occurring population in the world is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.
• The Monkey Puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana):
  is an evergreen species
  • is native to Chile and Argentina and is an endangered species
  • the name ‘Monkey Puzzle’ reportedly comes from a chance remark when it was first planted in Britain that, “…it would take a monkey to climb that.”

Special trees

Some trees have been planted to commemorate people associated with the park or that have visited the park in the past, including:

• the Oak planted by Andrew Carnegie himself during a 1909 visit
• HRH The Princess Royal planted an Oak tree in Pittencrieff Park to celebrate 100 years of the Carnegie UK Trust in 2013

Many other trees throughout the park that have been planted by local groups or planted in memory of people who enjoyed visiting the park during their lifetime.

“Apples and Pears for Your Heirs”

Ten apple trees and two pear trees were planted by the Friends of Pittencrieff Park, local lawyers (who funded the project) and local school children in November 2012.

The maintenance and enhancement of the orchard will continue to be carried out by the Friends of Pittencrieff Park, with further activities and events planned for the future

In 2016, more fruit trees and shrubs were added with the help of local school children.

Future plans

Our main goal is to maintain a healthy tree population, in the following ways:

• Ongoing monitoring of the tree population within Pittencrieff Park.

We do this through the management of trees and woodland, to promote growth of new trees and vary the age structure of the tree population. We also plant native trees in suitable areas of the park.

• Encourage greater appreciation of trees within Pittencrieff Park.We provide educational opportunities and activities for the local community and all park users.

We also organise tree planting activities for community groups and members of the public.