Are these maple/acer?!

[Slowgrowingelm]

Hi, I live near one of the London commons and the neighbours on either side of me have completely wild jungles for gardens. Both are rental properties with uninterested tenants. They have quite a few trees that have sprouted up, I assume they have somehow made their way from the common.

I’ve found these growing in my front area. I thought at first it was something I have previously planted - I have planted LOTS of things but keep forgetting what, so anything that survives and sprouts is generally a surprise! (I’m not great at gardening 🤣).

I let these grow for a bit but having just google searched them AI is telling me that they are acers. What do the mumsnet gardeners think? I accidentally pulled up some ‘weeds’ a week ago, only to realise they were something I had planted a few weeks earlier… I don’t want to make the same mistake again! TIA

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Sycamore most likely.

Looks like sycamore to me.

Definitely not acer, pretty sure it's a sycamore - there's probably a really big one near you, they are the ones with 'helicopter' seeds, they pop up all over. Pull them out quick before they get big!

Definitely not acer!!!

Sycamore I think

They look like sycamore to me.

It’s a Sycamore- pull the bugger out!

Just agreeing with everyone else. Sycamore. I get loads of them, too.

Thank you! I’m on it!

Sycamore

Can I also just ask if anyone knows what this one is? It’s got quite spindly stalks with little yellow flowers and then spikey balls. Piping up everywhere. But I think I may have planted this one… 🤔

That is a sycamore, and sycamores are Acers. Latin name is Acer pseudoplatanus. But of course it depends what size your garden is. "Acers" are typically smaller than what's commonly known as a sycamore.

These have popped up in a strip of garden about 2 metres wide by 40cm, against the front wall of my little mid-terrace. I definitely don’t want them growing there 🤣

Ha! Definitely not the place for a great big sycamore then.

I think your second picture is of an Avens but I'm less certain of that one.

This one is definitely a weed, and very good at self seeding. I’d pull it up if I was you unless you really like it, then you’ll have a garden full in no time.

Thank you again all.
Most people in my street have paved over their fronts and covered the rear gardens in plastic grass. I must be the neon-lit bright spot attracting all the local wannabes!

The yellow one may be a creeping buttercup. You don’t want it.

Plants are great for going where they can. Sometimes when you weed you make a nice space… for another weed to flourish!

Oh yes they are.

Could be Herb Bennett. Petals are looser than buttercup and pointed. I think it is also called wood avens. It's a native plant, member of the geum family. Has a bunch of common names. Can be a bit of a weed but not the worst. Quite pretty and bees like it.