Discover St Hugh’s Trees through our Community Tree Portal
Often described as a “mini arboretum”, the St Hugh’s College is home to an exceptional collection of trees, ranging from historic specimens that have stood for more than a century to rare and unusual species planted in recent years.
Our community tree portal helps students, staff, Fellows, alumni and visitors learn more about this amazing collection. The portal provides access to information gathered through professional tree surveys and allows users to explore individual trees across the College grounds. Visitors to the portal can search the collection, learn about different species, discover recent plantings and gain a deeper understanding of the biodiversity that makes St Hugh’s unique.
The portal also helps us care for the collection. If visitors notice a problem with a tree, they can report it directly through the system, helping the Gardens team monitor and manage the landscape.
The idea was inspired by similar work undertaken by the University Parks team, who created a public-facing portal to share information about Oxford’s extensive tree population. Given St Hugh’s reputation for its diverse and distinctive collection, our Head Gardener, Ed Reid, felt it was the perfect opportunity to open up our own records and make them accessible to the wider community.
Whether you are revisiting a favourite tree from your time at St Hugh’s, learning about an unfamiliar species, or simply enjoying a walk through the grounds, the Community Tree Portal will help you discover more about the College’s beautiful gardens.
Explore the Community Tree Portal by click here.
New additions and historic treasures
Several unusual species have recently joined the collection. One particularly special addition is a Toona sinensis (Flamingo Tree), planted on Main Lawn in memory of our dear friend and Fellow, Glen Loutzenhiser. Relatively uncommon in the UK, the Flamingo Tree produces striking salmon-pink foliage in spring that gradually softens to creamy yellow. In Chinese tradition, a mature Toona sinensis symbolises a father, making it an especially meaningful choice for Glen’s family.
