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The Cross Avenue was planted in 1937 along with the Coronation Avenue to mark the coronation of King George VI.
It is made up of Horse Chestnuts that are regularly trimmed to create a feel of a vaulted ceiling above anyone walking through, and to improve the view of the urns placed at either end.
The urns are placed in a grassed circle, planted with, at the south end, Silver Birch trees, and at the northern end, fastigiate Beech trees.
The trees at both ends are arranged in concentric circles, and under-planted with Camassia bulbs in two colours - white under the Birches, and blue beneath the Beech.
During the winter of 1999 - 2000, the circle to the north has undergone a good deal of restoration.
The removal of several Sycamore trees that were creating too much competition for the upright growing Beech trees has enabled the gardeners to improve the access to the circle from the Temple Lawn - a wider path now means less wear and tear to the grass.
A further ring of young Beech trees was added at the same time to give the circle more depth, along with the replanting of the shrubs along the boundary. The soil here is probably the wettest area in the garden and so the planting of a moisture-loving tree called the Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum) has added to the variety of plants in the area.
Halfway along the Cross Avenue are the six caryatid statues; a transfer of these may be seen on the glass-panelled doors in the restaurant as well as the menu bar for this web site.
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