Willow, Goat
The Goat Willow, also known as the pussy willow, is a broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of 10m, and may live for 300 years.
The bark is grey-brown and develops diamond-shaped fissures with age. Twigs are hairy at first but become smooth, and can appear red-yellow in sunlight.
This tree was planted in 1990 by The Post Office to mark their centenary.
Photo supplied by: Alan Payne
Common Name:
Goat Willow
Scentific Name:
Salix caprea
Tree No:
105
Location:
E16
Unlike most willows, the leaves are oval rather than long and thin. They are hairless above, but with a felty coating of fine grey hairs underneath, and have a pointed tip which bends to one side.
Best time to see it, in the early spring, when the pussy willow comes out, telling us spring is on the way.
Credit: This could be your image
Goat willow is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees. In early spring, the catkins develop – the male catkins grey, stout and oval, becoming yellow when ripe with pollen; the female catkins longer and green.
Credit: This could be your image
Once pollinated by wind, female catkins develop into woolly seeds. Most willows can also propagate themselves by lowering their branches to the ground, where they then develop roots.
Credit: This could be your image
The goat willow is a common species of willow native to the UK, Europe and western and central Asia.
It is found growing in woodland, hedgerows and scrub, and on damper, more open ground, such as near lakes, streams and canals.
Commonly known as the Pussy Willow, because its fluffy silver-grey male catkins resemble cats paws.
Goat willow foliage is eaten by the caterpillars of a number of moths. It is also the main food plant for the purple emperor butterfly. Catkins provide an important early source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects, and birds use goat willow to forage for caterpillars and insects.
Goat willow timber is soft and yellow in colour. The tree does not grow big enough for its timber to be useful, and unlike most willows, its brittle twigs are not suitable for weaving. The wood burns well and makes a good fuel and charcoal.
Optional Content.
Optional Content.
Tree Listings
Wild Cherry
Cherry, Wild The Wild Cherry, one of the prettiest native trees, is a broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of 30m, and may live for 60 years. The shiny bark is a deep reddish-brown with prominent cream-coloured horizontal lines called lenticels. ...
Western Red Cedar
Cedar, Western Rad The Western Red Cedar, is an giant evergreen conifer, that can grow to a height of 65m, and may live for 1,000's of years, with several examples in existance that over 1,500 years old. It is tall and conical in shape, with a broad trunk and dense...
Japanese Red Cedar
Cedar, Japanese Red The Japanese Red Cedar, is an evergreen conifer, that can grow to a height of 65m, and may live for 350 years. The bark is grey and stringy and tears off in long strips on mature trees..Photo supplied by:Common Name:Japanese Red Cedar Scentific...
Deodar Cedar
Cedar, Deodar The Deodar Cedar, is a fine textured evergreen conifer, that can grow to a height of 50m, and may live for 1,000 years.These two Deodars were probably planted well before the Gardens opened in 1888.Photo supplied by:Common Name:Deodar Cedar Scentific...
Blue Atlas Cedar
Cedar, Blue Atlas The Blue Atlas Cedar, is a showy evergreen conifer, that can grow to a height of 35m, and may live for 150 years. The trees are pyramidical while young but with age become flat topped with horizontal branches. The bark is blackish-brown with closely...
Silver Birch
Birch, Silver The Silver birch, is a striking broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of 30m, and may live for 150 years, although 60 to 90 years may be more typical. Forming a light canopy with elegant drooping branches. The silver-white bark sheds...
Cut Leaf Beech
Beech, Cut Leaf Content to follow. Photo supplied by: Alan PayneCommon Name:Cut Leaf Beech Scentific Name:Fagus sylvatica heterophylla asplenifoliar Tree No:186 Location:D7Content to follow. Credit: This could be your image Content to follow....
Copper Beech
Beech, Copper The Copper beech, also known as purple beech, is a broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of more than 40m, and may live for 300 years, although 200 years may be more typical. The bark is smooth, thin and grey, often with slight horizontal...
Common Beech
Beech, Common The Common Beech, is a charismatic and beautiful broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of more than 40m, and may live for 350 years, although 250 years may be more typical. The bark is smooth, thin and grey, often with slight horizontal...
Common Ash
Ash, Common The Common Ash, is a broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of 35m, and may live for 350 years, although 200 years may be more typical.Tall and graceful, they often grow together, forming a domed canopy. The bark is pale grey-brown and...
Crab Apple
Apple, Crab The Crab Apple Tree, one of the ancestors of the cultivated apple, is a broadleaved deciduous tree, that can grow to a height of 12 m, and may live for 100 years.They have an irregular rounded shape and a wide spreading canopy. With greyish brown flecked...
Auto Draft
Page Title Overview text Diffent points following a single enter.Photo supplied by:Common Name:Xxx Scentific Name:Xxx Tree No:00 Location:X0Content to follow. Credit: This could be your image Content to follow. Credit: This could be your image...
Braintree & Bocking Public Gardens,
43 Bocking End,
Braintree,
CM7 9AE.
Open 9:00 to 4:00pm – January, February.
Open 9:00 to 6:00pm – March.
Open 9:00 to 7:00pm – April.
Open 9:00 to 8:00pm – May, June, July, August.
Open 9:00 to 7:00pm – September.
Open 9:00 to 6:00pm – October.
Open 9:00 to 4:00pm – November December.
Note – The gates are locked at dusk.
Dusk is subject to seasonal variation, so closing times may not be exactly to the schedule, at the transitions.
No dogs allowed in the gardens.
No alcohol to be consumed in the gardens.
No riding of cycles or scooters in the gardens.
General Enquiries
Phone: 01376 773066
Email: info@braintreeandbockinggardens.co.uk
Tennis Enquiries
Phone: 01376 773070
Email: tennis@braintreeandbockinggardens.co.uk
© Braintree & Bocking Public Gardens Trust 2017-2021. All Rights Reserved.
Registered Charity Number 212989
Get in touch
Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens
We provide, maintain and preserve these unique and beautiful gardens as a community green space.
