Three fine avenues of trees in this region are; two in Baysgarth Park, Barton and the avenue running east to west down the centre of Queen’s Gardens, Hull. I am advised, although not by an expert, that the trees in question are limes. Certainly limes have been a popular choice for planting in public parks throughout the 20th century, this, presumably, because they are ‘native’ trees, grow to a lofty height but not with too dense a canopy of leaves, produce sweet-smelling flowers and are relatively sturdy. ‘Native’ refers to the fact that this species of tree grew naturally at this latitude in post-glacial Palaeolithic times, indeed archaeologists have found evidence of this species of tree growing back in geological time (Tertiary). Modern environmentalists much prefer to plant ‘native’ species of plants rather than species ‘introduced’ by Man at some point in History even though some have subsequently become very common, sycamore for example.
A bit of research brought to light the fact that a past term for lime trees was ‘linden’. This triggered a recollection of the term ‘Linden Lea’, one of Vaughan Williams famous English folk-song tunes, the words apparently taken from a 19th century Devonshire dialect-poem. The poem focuses on an apple orchard, ‘Linden Lea’ seemingly a place or point in the landscape local to the poet – so the poem is not specifically about lime trees although the name may well hark back to a time when they grew there. Lea is defined as arable land allowed to run-to-fallow and become rough meadow.
The English lime tree has no connection with the Mediterranean fruit bearing shrub of the same name.
The two ‘avenues’ in Baysgarth Park are at different stages of growth, this reflecting the history of the Park when different areas were incorporated.
The picture above taken from North Walls south-east of Queen’s Gardens only shows a glimpse of the central avenue of limes, I have better, more recent, photos but at the time of writing cannot find them!