Did you know?
To get involved, email brentford.library@hounslow.gov.uk
Have any questions or would like to get involved with volunteering at a later date?
Contact or visit the library team who would be happy to have a conversation with you!
Trees of Heavens - Ailanthus altissima- , grow and spread rapidly releasing chemicals into the soil that suppress the growth of other plants, reducing biodiversity and harming soil health.
A single tree can produce up to a million seeds each year, making long-term control extremely difficult.
The UK Wildlife and Countryside Act lists them as an invasive non-native species. It is illegal to plant or allow these trees to spread in the wild and they are banned from sale, in the UK.
In 2017 one of the Trees of Heaven fell. Thankfully no-one was hurt, but a vehicle in the library car park was crushed and the boundary wall was damaged.
At Brentford Community Hub & Library Trees of Heavens at their highest, were approximately 25m tall. They had outgrown their space and presented a serious risk of falling, given certain conditions, such as high winds.
Trees of Heaven are also known as Ailanthus altissima.