Date: 17 January 2001
Originally published in: Countryside Properties press release (UK)
Written by:
A new world record will be broken when the ‘largest tree ever to be transplanted’, makes its way from Belgium to the UK. The 58ft. tree, which has been nicknamed ‘Plane Ace’, will soon be moving into its new home at Winwick Park, a flagship development of luxury new homes by Countryside Properties PLC, in Warrington, Cheshire.
Environmentally conscientious developer, Countryside Properties has teamed up with horticulturist, and former pop star, Kim Wilde, who has been involved with the project since its conception. Members of the local community are invited to see Kim participating in a ceremony to celebrate the re-planting of Plane Ace, at Winwick Park on Thursday 25th January 2001 at 2pm.
Winwick Park is an 85-acre brownfield new homes development in the north of Warrington, on the site of what was formerly Winwick Hospital. Developer Countryside Properties is landscaping nearly 38-acres of parkland, retaining the many mature trees on the land and planting 80 additional semi-mature trees, which are being hand picked and imported from Belgium and France. 300 new homes are being built in varied styles ranging from three to five bedrooms.
The layout of Winwick Park has been cleverly designed to create a picturesque environment of trees, landscaped gardens and houses that reflect the charming architecture of the surrounding Cheshire villages. Features incorporate soft red bricks, half-timbering, decorative tile hanging and colour washed render.
“The entrance to the Winwick Park will be stunning.” explains Managing Director of Countryside Properties’ Strategic Division, Robin Hoyles. “There is a formal landscaped tree-lined boulevard from the entrance, which is lined with grand Regency-style houses, leading to this magnificent record breaking tree as the centre piece of a new square at the heart of the development.”
The tree has been nicknamed ‘Plane Ace’ as it is a London Plane Tree, ‘Acer Folia’. It is approximately 60 years old and stands at 58.39 ft. (17.8 metres) above ground. It has a Trunk Girth of approximately 3 ft. (1.05 metres) and is expected to live for approximately 250 years, by which time it is estimated to have reached 150 ft. in height. The current holder of the Guiness Book of Records’ world title, is a 100 year old Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), measuring 52ft. (16m) high and was moved just 196 ft. (60m) by Bomen BSI Service of The Netherlands on 27th March 1997.
Plane Ace was collected from its current home at the Abor Nursery at Aarchen near Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday 16th January, from where was loaded onto a ‘trombone’ trailer and transported by road to the port of Zebrugge. The ferry then left Zebrugge on 16th January and travelled by road with police escort, from the port in Hull to Warrington. Plane Ace will be craned into its new position and will be filmed being lowered into its new home on Monday 22nd January
Houses are available at Winwick Park priced from £154,950 to £315,000. For sales enquiries telephone: 01925 419 463 or visit the website: www.countryside-residential.co.uk