Trees reduce wind speeds and cool the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves. It's estimated that trees can reduce the temperature in a city by up to 7°c.

There are over 450 different types of Oak and they can live for a thousand years. One mature oak can be home to as many as 500 different species.

The wood of the Small-Leaved Lime doesn't warp with age so is ideal for carving - for instance, it is used to make sounding boards and piano keys.

Over 20 species of British trees and shrubs are known to have medicinal properties. The oil from birch bark, for example, is antiseptic and can be used to treat eczema.

The first game of conkers was recorded in 1848 on the Isle of Wight. The wood of the Horse Chestnut had a more practical use - it was used for dairymaids' buckets, because the soft, white timber is slow to rot in the wet.

You can join a long line of distinguished people who have dedicated their very own tree in a Royal Park: from the young Queen Bess, who danced with her courtiers in the shade of the Elizabeth Oak in Greenwich, to Diana Ross and Dame Shirley Bassey, who planted a young ash to commemorate a concert in Hyde Park.

For more information about dedicating a personal tree, for yourself or someone special, visit www.royalparksfoundation.org or call 020 7298 2130.