You might not know that the London plane tree is a species in itself. They are in fact called Platanus x acerifolia and are probably a cross between the oriental plane tree and the sycamore tree.

Now about half of London’s trees are plane trees. It was planted in large numbers in the 1800s during the Industrial Revolution when, due to smog, many more trees could not survive. Now it’s a tree so widespread that we don’t even notice it.

In London these trees can reach a height of 35 meters, but if grown in the countryside they reach 45 meters.The beauty of this species of tree is that it is completely adapted to the London climate, it does not suffer from pollution or lack of space.

It has been known for at least a couple of centuries and no London plane trees are known to have died of old age, so no one can say how long they can live.

Take a look at the bark of the London plane tree for example, you can see that it is patchy, but if you get closer you will see that they are pieces of bark coming off. This is a way for the tree to eliminate smog, pollution and toxic substances that have settled there. And perhaps one of the reasons why it manages to live well in London.

A famous London Plane is in Brunswick Square

To see a great example of London’s plane tree, go to Brunswick Square in Bloomsbury / Camden. A tree probably planted at the time of Jane Austen, late 1700s or early 1800s. It is also particular because unlike other city trees it has not been continuously pruned and therefore has low branches. It has a different shape from that of other plane trees in London.

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This is not a Beatrix Potter’s story, this is real life in New York City. No one knows if it’s just one squirrel or a gang of them and why they have turned aggressive. It might be that they have caught rabies but that’s thought to be unlikely.

What we know is that a number of people have reported an attack by a small squirrel in the past few days.  These people were simply walking and minding their own businesses when suddenly the Lone Squirrel came out of nowhere and bit them.  A man actually reported that he ended up wrestling with the squirrel who wouldn’t let his finger go. 

Apparently squirrels traps have been set up in the area, but so far no one has been captured. 

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London Zoo has created a map with all recent sightings of seals and dolphins along the Thames.

Many of these sightings have been reported by ordinary people and if you see seals or dolphins along the Thames you can report them here. If you think seeing a dolphin is a rare thing, you are quite mistaken, dolphins often make their way to central London.

Don’t forget that the River Thames up to Teddington Dock is tidal and also has salt water. Seeing animals such as dolphins and even whales is not a rare thing. As for seals in 2020 alone, 467 seals have been sighted and the farthest from the estuary were at Hampton Court. Whales are less common and are often in great trouble when they come to the Thames.