Ilex aquifolium, Holly

Holly is an evergreen Shrub growing higher than 12 meters at a slow rate.

It grows well in  in most soils and can tolerate heavy clay soils, in full sun or fairly dense shade.

The Holly I took pictures of is part of the boundary between a playing area and a small ornamental garden in Manor Park, Glossop.

 This particular tree is located in sunny place growing on damp soil. 

The bark is smooth silver-grey with fissures and tubercles appearing with age.

The leaves are  oval leathery shiny 5–12 cm long which last around 5 years. The young ones    have three to five sharp spines on each side, pointing alternately upward and downward, while leaves of the upper branches in mature trees lack spines.

The flowers are white, four-lobed.

The fruits are red drupes, about 6–10 mm in diameter,

and mature around October or November.