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The Large-flowered Cockspur Thorn Crataegus coccinoides is an American hawthorn and only a few examples exist in Wanstead Park.
The most obvious of these is the specimen just to the SW of the Dell Bridge. Botanical records from Wanstead Park have noted the presence of a Wild Service Tree, but this has not been refound, and it is doubtful whether it ever existed. The leaves of the Crataegus does look like that of the Service Tree; and it is quite possible that a mistake in identification has been made at some time.
There were two good specimens not too far away, by the Southern Arm of the Ornamental Waters, but these were destroyed when the lake was dredged in the 1980's. Another specimen is present nearer to the River Roding. Near the pump-house are some sapling trees. One of these was progressing well until it was unneccesarily cut down in 2007 by - we believe - the Thames Water Authority (see here). It is recovering.
Is it possible that these are descendents of trees planted in the American Garden that is shown as a feature on some very old plans of the Wanstead Parklands?
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