National Lottery Heritage Grants £10,000 to £250,000
The Great London Plane Tree of Ely is thought to be over 350 years old and is recognised as the largest and one of the first of its kind. Our support – awarded to the King’s School, Ely, on whose grounds the tree stands – will secure the tree’s future as both a flourishing specimen and a focal point of local heritage.
The project will provide critical new bracing to support the structure of the tree. Precise pruning will be carried out, encouraging fresh growth in areas where the tree needs to be strengthened.
A team from the University of Cambridge is set to install sensors to gather live data on the tree’s condition. This will enable more informed decisions to be made about the tree’s care, as well as providing data that can help the conservation of other heritage trees. This will be the first time these techniques have been used in the UK.
At 42 metres high, the tree stands tall alongside Ely Cathedral. It was planted there in around 1674 – a gift to the Bishop from King Charles II. As part of the project, the tree and associated heritage will be made more accessible. A programme of events will offer visitors the chance to enjoy the tree while learning more about both heritage tree conservation and the history of Ely.
Discover more projects we’ve supported to protect nature or explore how National Lottery funding is making a difference across the Midlands and East of England.