Tree roundels have been a distinctive feature of the British countryside since at least the early 18th century. Originally planted as ornamental features in parkland they act as focal points or marked boundaries. Often formed of oak, these dense circular clusters of trees provide critical habitats for many insect and plant species. They act as “an island or stepping stone for wildlife across otherwise open areas” (Woodland Trust, no date) Their catkins are a source of pollen for bees, and their dense, evergreen canopy offers year-round shelter for birds, therefore protecting these trees is essential for maintaining ecological balance and preserving the historical landscape.

Many of the roundels, which were once dotted across the landscape, have been lost as a result of urban expansion (Butler and Alexander, 2013). However, there are fine examples in the farmland to the South of Canterbury. A group of five roundels in a field off Stuppington Lane provide an attractive foreground to panoramic views of Canterbury Cathedral as seen by visitors arriving from the continent via the A2 and are important cultural icons. Formed of 79 veteran trees of which 24 are holm oak, the roundels appear as mature features on an 1890 map of Canterbury indicating that they are much older.

Holm oaks which are native to the Eastern Mediterranean were introduced to Britain in the late 1500s (Woodland Trust) where they thrive in the warmer climate of the South of England. They are evergreen broadleaf trees that can grow to 20 metres and develop a huge, distinctive, rounded crown. Planting in a circulation formation protects the younger oaks from strong winds and grazing animals. Other examples in the Canterbury area can be seen in the parklands of Bourne, Charlton and Broome Park. William Sidney Cooper’s Canterbury Cathedral from the Stour Meadows, Kent illustrates the aesthetic value of tree roundels, which contribute to the rural idyll of the water meadows.

A roundel north of Hales Place in Canterbury serves as a reminder of the mansion, gardens and park which once graced the area - demolished in the 1920s and redeveloped. The St Peter’s, Wincheap, Riding Gate and St George’s roundabouts on the Canterbury ring road have been planted with trees echoing the city’s rural past in an urban setting.