CAS Lollipop Tree
Cloud Appreciation Society supporter H Brown has recently adopted a tree on behalf of the Society to support SHHGA – Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Arboretum, Jermyns Lane, Romsey, Hampshire, UK, SO51 0QA, where he is a volunteer. We hope that this will enthuse the public in general, and children in particular, about clouds and inspire visitors to the Arboretum to look up at the skies.
The maple cultivar features a flat base which reminds us of ‘the cotton-wool puffs, with flat bases’ from a description in The Cloud Collector’s Handbook. A common name is Lollipop Tree or Mop Head Tree.
We would like to thank H for all the effort he has put into organising this on our behalf.
Hillier Gardens has a ‘Plants of current interest’ with around 10 or so plants listed and mapped. Recently the plant next to CAS’ Lollipop Tree was on the list, and someone had cleaned up the CAS information board (above)!
I don’t follow Twitter – has anyone ever mentioned the Lollipop Tree on CAS Twitter, I wonder?
Let me expand a little on what triggered me to sponsor CAS to adopt the Lollipop tree. One of the missions of SHHGA as a charity is Education, including Nature. I noticed students had left a garland under the (flat based) tree and when I read of its common name, Lollipop, it clicked – catch ’em young, CAS agreed.
SHHGA Director Wolfgang Bopp was supportive of the idea, and he it was who suggested, and resourced, the information board, which is great. Education Officer Carla Thomas-Buffin says ‘The tree is on one of my main routes through the Gardens and children find it really interesting’.
‘For children everywhere’ stems from the 1922 – 1964 BBC program Children’s Hour, but seems apt for today’s social media.
‘H’