the native black poplar is a sub-species of the black poplar which is thought to be native to Britian. it was once a distinctive feature of lowland river valleys. due to various factors it has now became one of the rarest British trees.
most of those factors are human-induced: the loss of suitable habitat due to urbanisation and industrialisation, the practice of planting male species only that inhibits reproduction and negative effect cloning on genetic diversity.
there are around 50 native black poplar trees in Hackney. these images show some of them.
