Discovering medicinal trees in the grounds of the University of Exeter
Visit and explore the extensive gardens at the Streatham Campus in Devon, UK, with thousands of trees and shrubs, and so many are medicinal!
I love to visit gardens and other places where there may be healing plants to discover! This post introduces the University of Exeter Streatham Campus site in Devon, UK, with a snapshot view of many tree and shrub species offering medicinal potential. Some plants derive from historical planting of the original estate, others from the old botany department, and then there are the added species planted over many decades. The site in Exeter has varied microclimates, giving us an exciting view of the range of trees and shrubs that can be grown in a temperate climate such as that of south-west England.
I am rather fortunate to live in south-west England with access to an incredible variety of natural habitats and cultivated gardens. From the hills of Dartmoor to National Trust coastal coves and historic estates with extensive designed gardens, there is plenty to see. But there is one site that I have revisited more than any other, as I moved through postgraduate courses to historical research in the archives. Over the last 25 years I have frequently visited the University of Exeter, getting to know the campus through the seasons. The Streatham Campus is part of a larger number of sites managed by the University, amounting to some 350 acres of buildings and land with thousands of trees.
Reed Hall origins
The Streatham Campus stretches downhill to the west of the city of Exeter. The site is noted for the arboretum of conifer species, collection of specimen oak trees, cherry and fruit orchards, community garden, many champion and other unusual trees. There are some good views higher up the hill from cafes around the Forum and Library. Much of the lower part of the grounds was originally Streatham Hall, built by Richard Thornton in the 1860s. He became rich as an East India merchant so, much like many other landed estates, we should not forget the exploitative origins of these grounds. The surrounding gardens were planted with trees collected worldwide by the famous Veitch nursery. Started by John Veitch, the nursery developed a reputation for the discovery and introduction of numerous foreign plants. Further members of the family and others became known as extraordinary plant hunters, spanning five generations, and they brought back many acquisitions from central and south America and Asia in the nineteenth century.
A subsequent owner of Streatham Hall, Alderman W H Reed, later presented the building and grounds to the university, and the building has since been renamed Reed Hall. Both the hall and grounds are listed as Grade II by Historic England, nowadays the Italianate architecture provides a backdrop for conferences and weddings. Many of the garden features remain, including a large pond and fountain, balustrades and stone figures. The original glasshouse has been removed to a local public house. As the university developed over the twentieth century there were further additions in the grounds.
Botanic garden plots
Towards one side of the Queen's Building there are a few remnants of a once thriving botanical garden. A report by John Caldwell was published in Nature journal in 1948 recording the foundation stone of the Hatherly Biological Laboratories on the University of Exeter campus, new buildings to accommodate the growing Departments of Botany and Zoology. The associated botanic garden had a number of plots with an extraordinary range of plants from roses to Asian and North American shrubs. All of the trees and shrubs on the Campus were detailed by Caldwell in a 1969 book publication, Grounds and Gardens of the University of Exeter. I wish I could thank him for the care he took to identify and number every single plant! Sadly, many of the original shrub plantings are lost, though some trees survive. The book provides an excellent starting point for figuring out the exotic trees, some of which are now listed as Champion Trees.
Favourite tree examples
Originating from forests in the Americas and Asia, many of the trees have potential uses as medicine, and are also recorded in traditional medicine sources. A fair amount of research is currently under way to pin down some of the medicinal uses (you can check out the 500 references I have compiled for 80 species, the citations available for free download on the Medicinal Forest Garden Trust website). Some trees are notable in their more natural habitats or in cultivation as sources for the world trade in botanicals. For example, the black walnut (Juglans nigra). The bark, unripe fruit hulls and leaf were all well-used by native North Americans, and are known for antibacterial and laxative properties. There are huge eucalyptus trees (including cider gum (Eucalyptus gunnii) and others) known for the distilled essential oils which are so beneficial in respiratory complaints. The sweet-smelling leaves dangle within arms reach, showing flowers and strangely shaped little seed pots. There are practical uses for the aromatic leaves of the eucalyptus, as they can be floated in hot water to provide an inhalation to alleviate a cough or stuffy nose.
Sheltered locations
The University of Exeter Campus provides a uniquely sheltered environment which encourages some introduced Mediterranean and subtropical shrubs to grow profusely and bear fruit with seeds. For example, there is hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus) in the courtyard of the old Arts faculty in the Queen's Building. It grows freely with luscious pink-red flowers, producing so much seed that tiny seedlings appear between the cracks in the pavement. The edible flowers and leaves are particularly noted for their use in infusions which have a role in weight loss programmes, digestive complaints, and reducing blood fats. Further uphill, there are south-facing buildings clothed in aromatic shrubs such as myrtle (Myrtus communis). Here, sheltered by a wall, the plant also produces fruits, small black berries which are edible and can be used as a digestive aid. Some plants have become very well established such as hardy bitter lemon and orange (Citrus trifoliata), and there are substantial stands of sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) around the Campus.
Chinese medicine
Not surprisingly, many of the plant species can be found to have played a role in Asian medicine, especially Chinese medicine - these include forsythia (Forsythia suspensa) and the foxglove or princess tree (Paulownia tomentosa). A large amur cork (Phellodendron amurense) stands at the top of an avenue of trees originally planted to honour those who died in the World wars I and II. It is a member of the Rutaceae family, other plant members of the same family include aromatic citrus fruits and spicy peppers. The bark extract of the amur cork is a bitter and cold remedy, one of 50 fundamental remedies in traditional Chinese medicine. It is understood to help release toxins and used in digestive and urinary infections. There are unexpected gems too, next to Queen's Building I found the glossy or Chinese privet (Ligustrum lucidum) tree, a well-grown example producing attractive white dangling flowers. Closely related to our familiar privet used in garden hedges, the seed of Chinese privet is traditionally used for vertigo and dizziness.
Seasonal visits
This campus is worth visiting all through the year. Visits will repay with different views such as the autumn highlights of the North American sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflia) tree. There are plenty of beautiful native and naturalised trees too, many with ornamental varieties: birch (Betula spp.), cherry (Prunus spp.), hawthorn (Crataegus spp.), horsechestnut (Aesculus spp.), lime (Tilia spp.), oak (Quercus spp.). Spring time is particularly notable for cherry blossom, with many ornamental cherries on display, as well as magnificent magnolias. Of course, the medicinal value of cherry lies in the bark which is antispasmodic and used in alleviating a dry cough. In the autumn there is also fruit bounty such as the medlar (Crataegus germanica) tree at one corner of Queen's building. Once widely cultivated, when fully ripe and 'bletted' the rotten fruits make a rather sweet fudgelike preserve. And through the winter the conifers are resplendent, they are on my bucket list for finding time to go back and become much more proficient at learning to recognise conifers and their families - there is everything here, from big cone pines to redwoods and swamp cypresses!
Further learning opportunities
Some trees are labelled on the Streatham Campus site. Unfortunately, not all of the trees are clearly labelled at present so there is a bit of guesswork involved in identification. However, I give a heads up for the Grounds Department, as the staff do a great job of maintaining this huge site, both caring for the trees and also making attractive areas to stop and look, some parts mown and others allowed to grow on. As there is often development or redevelopment, the staff have to contend with frequent digging up of pipes and cables which easily disturbs nearby trees. Fortunately there are efforts to repair the damage and new plantings to maintain the range of species. The whole site must provide a good range of experience for those in horticulture placements.
For volunteers there is also a community-based gardening initiative. If you are in or around the University then do take the opportunity to visit the Community Garden which is voluntarily maintained by students, staff and local residents. This includes an orchard area, greenhouse, herb garden, vegetable crops, and more.
Visiting the Campus
Many paths are accessible. Caution on grassy slopes which can be wet and slippy. There are a number of online guides to the University of Exeter gardens available, including tree trails at both Streatham and St Luke's Campuses. A useful illustrated guide is the Streatham Campus Tree Trail which can be downloaded. Occasionally there are tours in person available, I offered a walk-about focusing on medicinal trees and shrubs during Great Big Green Week 2024.
The Streatham Campus can be accessed by foot (10 min walk) from either Exeter St Davids or Exeter Central railway stations, and a frequent UNI bus shuttles between the city centre and the campus. Visitor parking is mostly limited to on street parking or marked bays. Wheelchair accessibility is variable, though there are numerous paved paths around the campus, and a number of cafes and restaurants including Reed Hall and the centrally located Forum.