On a residential street, a London tree is steadily growing around a classic red postbox, its bark and trunk consuming the metal structure. It’s become quite the local landmark, a symbol of how nature and the man-made elements of the city fuse together seamlessly.
A symbol of nature’s place in the city
At first glance, you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking it’s an optical illusion. The bright red of the postbox seems to melt into the bark of the tree, its cap almost completely engulfed by the swelling trunk. This particular postbox features the royal cypher “GR,” which indicates it was installed during the reign of King George V (1910-1936). This small detail reveals it has stood in this exact spot for around a century, long before the tree towered over pedestrians.
The story likely began decades ago when the young tree was planted a little too close to the pillar box on Fitz-George Avenue in West Kensington. Locals have named it the ‘postbox-eating tree’, and to be fair, it looks like something straight out of a fairytale! Eat your heart out Far Far Away!
As the tree grew, its trunk expanded, slowly making contact with the unmoving metal. Despite its predicament, the postbox is still fully functional, with its collection slot clear and ready for letters.
It represents the often chaotic way that history, nature, and modern life intertwine in the city.
So, the next time you’re wandering through London’s residential streets, look closer. This « hungry » tree is a reminder to appreciate the small, extraordinary stories that unfold every day on the city’s pavements.
