Ailanthus altissima ‘Tree of Heaven’ trees looking amazing laden with with clusters of winged seeds in Brunswick Square, spotted by our roving photographer in October. Another name is ‘stink tree’ because of its unpleasant smell.

Ailanthus is not a native tree and can be something of a weed tree, turning up and growing fast where not planted and not wanted, with invasive roots and suckers which soon become new trees. It has been a good year for many tree seeds given the summer weather, and a heavy crop of seed shed from Ailanthus will mean many more babies than are welcome – and more for the volunteer gardening team to look out for.