The first planes have landed at Heathrow's Terminal 5 - plane trees that is.

Forty London plane trees were planted at T5's Interchange Plaza, which has been designed to provide passengers with an outdoor haven.

The 7.5-tonne trees were lowered into the plaza by crane in an operation that took three weeks.

Nick Bailey, T5 landscape architect said: "It's great to see the Interchange Plaza coming to life, the arrival of these stunning trees has given the terminal a very real sense of completion.

"Air travel often involves spending a great deal of time inside so we're delighted that Terminal 5 will provide passengers with a very pleasant outdoor space which will be enhanced by the addition of the plane trees."

The trees are 30-years-old and were at a nursery in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, before being transported to T5.

To date, 700 semi-mature trees and one million shrubs have been planted on or around the T5 site and the western perimeter of the airport.

Interchange Plaza separates the main terminal building and T5's multi-storey car park. Arrivals will step into a landscaped environment that will provide a refreshing welcome to the UK.

Departing passengers can step into the plaza before checking in.

London plane trees feature in public spaces in the capital, such as Berkeley Square, Kew Gardens and Ravensbury Park.

They were chosen for T5's plaza because they are easy to prune.

Until T5 opens to passengers next spring, the newly planted trees will be watered, pruned and protected from dust while work continues around them.