Big trees are in

I have just got back, exhausted, from Germany where we have been sourcing some mature 30 foot trees for one of large landscaping projects. Germany has long held a fantastic reputation for growing superb native European trees, and after this visit, we can see why. There were 57 hectares of beautifully-planted, pruned, turned and therefore symmetrical trees, including beech and hornbeam. Big trees are much in demand at the moment as they form arboricultural anchors for landscape schemes, and lend an immediate sense of longevity to the newest project. It is a joy, though, to see real expertise at work and we were privileged to be shown round these pinnacles of horticultural skill. The euro's strength against sterling may favour UK nurseries, but I fear we have a great deal to learn before we can rival Germany's pre-eminence in providing big trees.