Advice re new tree

[Vestito]

Unfortunately, in recent storms we have lost a 40 year old tree that took centre stage in our garden. So every cloud etc we would like to plant something else. It’s a semi-rural garden so a good size but we have a septic tank/treatment system with a pipe running diagonally across the garden. So whatever we plant needs to be fairly pipe-friendly. I would like something that eventually will provide dappled shade - like a weeping willow but I know that’s a no-no near pipes. So over to the wiser gardeners… soil is fertile clay soil and it would get plenty of light.

Cherries are reasonably pipe friendly. They come in all sorts of sizes and shapes. So are magnolias, but not really dappled shade kind of trees.

What was the tree you lost?

It was a mature laburnum. I loved it but trying to see this as an opportunity to have something new. I have two magnolias and as you say, different sort of shade. A cherry might be nice alright.

So not that huge either? Mulberries are lovely for shade (not that dappled, fairly dense). Did you want something that flowers too? Autumn colours? Acer ginnala goes lovely colours in autumn, but does get fairly big.

For cherries, I really like Tai haku. Pure white and grows quite big and 'tree like' iyswim.

Judas tree - cercis sequilastrum.
Red hawthorn -crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'.
Wedding cake bush - viburnum plicatum mariesii.

Thanks everyone, some lovely suggestions. Going to explore them all.

Jacks montii silver birch is one of my favs.
We have a Crimson king maple which is lovely
Liquid amber is lovely in autumn.

Betula utilis x jaquemontii. Very white bark.