News

Free Outdoor Play Scheme Launched To Combat Child Health Problems	Forestry Commission and Play England are joining forces to offer free play opportunities in forests from 13-21 March. The week will highlight the health benefits of outdoor play and that children today are playing outside far less than ever before, as recent statistics show - 01/03/2010
Fun And Adventure At Bedgebury With Outdoor Play Week	Take a leap into the wild at Bedgebury and join the tremendous adventures on offer during Outdoor Play Week with the Forestry Commission on Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st March. Children of all ages can come and join the fun, which will include den building, guided nature trails and cycling. - 01/03/2010
Forestry Scientist In Mission To Conserve Endangered Tree	Forestry scientist Matt Parratt is in the front line of an international effort to conserve one of the world’s rarest and most endangered tree species. - 23/02/2010
Family Trees - Mothering Sunday Activities At The National Arboretum	Westonbirt – the National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, will hold family activities on March 14 to celebrate Mothering Sunday. - 22/02/2010
Brit Award Winners Jls Forest Concert For The Summer	Brit Award winners, JLS, the most successful new group of 2009, will be playing a special forest concert this summer, at Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. - 17/02/2010
World Class Garden Photography On Show At Westonbirt	A unique display of tree photography will come to Westonbirt - the National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, for the first time this April and May. - 12/02/2010
Blondie Forest Concert Announced	Blondie have announced a West Country date for the summer with an appearance at Westonbirt Arboretum as part of Forestry Commission Live Music where bands perform in beautiful woodland locations around the country. - 08/02/2010
Historic Westonbirt Estate Reunited For Visitors	On 12 and 13 April, visitors to Westonbirt – the National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, will have the chance to explore the 150-year legacy of the Westonbirt Estate. - 03/02/2010
All Creatures Great And Small	‘Love our Wildlife with the RSPB’ half term family event This half term make friends with birds and beetles and help your family discover the abundance of wildlife in your back garden at Westonbirt – the National Arboretum, managed by the Forestry Commission. - 28/01/2010
A Nice Day For A Westonbirt Wedding	Westonbirt – the National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, will show how it can be the perfect place to tie the knot when it hosts the ‘Weddings at Westonbirt’ open day in the Great Oak Hall on Sunday 21 March. - 26/01/2010
Four-Legged Fun At Westonbirt	Westonbirt – The National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, will welcome its four-legged friends on 20-21st February, when it hosts the popular ‘Dog Days’ weekend. - 25/01/2010
Tales Of Love From The Arboretum	Westonbirt searches for stories of romance - With 600 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, there’s no denying Westonbirt- the National Arboretum, managed by the Forestry Commission, is a romantic setting. - 22/01/2010
Blooming Marvellous - Spring Events For Everyone At Westonbirt	Westonbirt – the National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, has launched 2010 with a packed calendar of spring events. - 22/01/2010
Westonbirt Is A Winter Wonderland	Westonbirt – The National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, has turned into a winter wonderland following the heaviest snow fall much of Gloucestershire has seen in decades. - 12/01/2010
Status Quo Announce Forest Concert For The Summer	One of Britain's best loved bands has announced a West Country date for the summer. The legendary Status Quo will be appearing at Westonbirt Arboretum as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. - 11/01/2010
James Morrison Announces Forest Concerts	Following on from his first UK arena tour, James Morrison has announced he will be performing a couple of 2010 concerts as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. - 14/12/2009
Keane To Play Forests	Keane has announced a tour of spectacular woodland locations next summer as part of the Forestry Commission Live Music series. - 30/11/2009
Simply Red Forest Concerts For 2010	One of the most popular bands of the past 25 years, Simply Red, has announced a series of dates in spectacular woodland locations next summer as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. - 02/11/2009
Westonbirt Reaches For The Skies	Westonbirt Arboretum is launching an ambitious �10 million plan, the Westonbirt Project, to not only safeguard this historic national collection for the future but also really connect people with trees. As part of the plan, an exciting tree-top experience will get visitors up close and personal with these stunning trees for the first time. - 20/10/2009
Ghostly Goings-On At Garwnant	Things will be going bump in the night at the new Forestry Commission Wales visitor centre at Garwnant, near Merthyr Tydfil, later this month - but there won't be a workman in sight. - 12/10/2009
Westonbirt Blazes An Autumn Trail	One of the finest autumn spectacles in the world is right here in the UK, at Westonbirt The National Arboretum in the Cotswolds. From around mid-October into November, Westonbirt’s Japanese maples - Britain’s largest collection - are a riot of colour. - 12/10/2009
Enchanted Christmas At Westonbirt Arboretum	Christmas is coming, and at Westonbirt Arboretum the massive trees are getting decked out with thousands of festive lights. On Friday, Saturday and Sundays evenings from 27 November to 20 December, rekindle the Christmas spirit on a magical stroll along the famous illuminated trail. - 07/10/2009
Climate Change Puts Westonbirt On Red Alert	Westonbirt Arboretum’s world-famous collection of Japanese maples is under threat from climate change. - 01/10/2009
Westonbirt Recognised For Its Unique Outdoor Classroom	Westonbirt - The National Arboretum is the first outdoor attraction in Gloucestershire to be awarded a Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge in recognition of the high quality of its learning programmes. - 25/09/2009
Westonbirt Welcomes Its New Director	Simon Toomer has been appointed as the new Director of Westonbirt – the National Arboretum in Gloucestershire. - 20/08/2009
Enter Westonbirt's New Mini-World	For the very first time at Westonbirt Arboretum’s Festival of the Tree (24-31 August) enter the Laboratree tipi and be a scientist for the day. Delve into the fascinating world of trees - get up close with live bugs and bark under the microscope, meet some real-life scientists and take in the Forestry Commission’s new film ‘The World is Hot Enough’. - 17/08/2009
Westonbirt Makes Holidaying At Home A Natural Pleasure	With the credit crunch, strong euro and growing environmental concerns, more and more people are opting to holiday at home this summer on 'staycations'. And Westonbirt Arboretum, part of the Forestry Commission estate, has a wealth of outdoor activities and events to keep everyone happy - from the family-friendly Festival of the Tree and evening concerts, heritage tours and guided walks, to hands-on green woodworking and willow weaving. - 15/07/2009
Alice In Woodland Wonderland!	Live open-air theatre is coming to Bedgebury National Pinetum on Wednesday 26 August - 28/05/2009
Angels In The Forest	Vanessa-Mae, the world famous violin virtuoso, has announced further details regarding her West Country date this summer, when she will be appearing at Westonbirt Arboretum as part of the Forestry Commission’s 2009 concert season. - 18/05/2009
Festival Of The Tree Has Something For Everyone 24 –31 August	Woodcarvers at work, trips into the treetops or some gentle retail therapy… this year Westonbirt Arboretum’s Festival of the Tree has something for everyone. - 18/05/2009
The Light Shines Through At Westonbirt	The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum are delighted to be among the beneficiaries of an exciting auction of stained glass, held recently in the National Arboretum's Great Oak Hall at the Forestry Commission-managed site. - 07/05/2009
Step Back In Time At Westonbirt	Exclusive Holford Heritage Tours this July and August - 20/04/2009
Westonbirt Is Blooming	This Forestry Commission's Westonbirt Arboretum is famous for its autumn colour, but spring seems to be one of its best-kept and most glorious secrets - and throughout April and May, come along on a ‘Westonbirt Wednesday’ and get 50% off all admissions. - 02/04/2009
Westonbirt Plans To Reconnect With Its Past And Safeguard The Future	The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has today given the green light to the Westonbirt Heritage Partnership to work up plans to reconnect the historic Westonbirt estate, conserve its unique heritage and inspire future visitors with Development funding of �177,800. - 30/03/2009
David Gray Forest Dates Announced	One of the most influential British singer-songwriters of the past decade, David Gray, has announced a brace of gigs this summer as part of the Forestry Commission Live Music programme taking place in spectacular woodland locations across the country. - 03/03/2009
Paul Weller Joined By Twisted Wheel For Forest Dates	Hotly tipped Manchester band Twisted Wheel are announced as Paul Weller’s special guests when he embarks on his tour of spectacular woodland locations as part of the Forestry Commission’s Live Music programme this summer. - 24/02/2009
Simply Red Forest Date	One of the most popular bands of the past 25 years, Simply Red, has announced a summer concert at Westonbirt Arboretum as part of the Forestry Commission’s live music programme for 2009. - 26/01/2009
Paul Weller Announces Summer Dates	Paul Weller has announced a series of gigs in spectacular woodland locations this summer as part of Forestry Commission Live Music 2009. - 12/01/2009
Westonbirt Welcomes In The New Year	Take a romantic Valentine’s Day stroll through the woods or accompany your four-legged friend to Dog Days. Westonbirt Arboretum has a wealth of events to welcome in the new year. - 05/01/2009
Status Quo Announce Summer Show	One of Britain's best loved bands has announced a South-East date for next Summer. The legendary Status Quo will be appearing at Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest, near Goudhurst, Kent as part of the Forestry Commission’s summer concert season. - 15/12/2008
Every Dog Has Its Day At Westonbirt!	It’s doggie heaven at Westonbirt Arboretum on 21 and 22 February. - 15/12/2008
Mcfly To The Woods	The superb McFly have announced a trio of dates next Summer when they will be performing in fantastic woodland locations as part of the Forestry Commission’s annual live music series. - 08/12/2008
Bedgebury Beats The Recession With Half-Price Wednesdays	As a recession-busting bonus, Bedgebury Forest in Kent is offering a Half Price Wednesday offer from the beginning of January till the end of March (excluding February half term), with an admission price per car of only �3.50, plus discounts on cycle hire and refreshments. - 01/12/2008
Opera Diva Katherine Jenkins Announces Summer Shows	Following two sell-out forest concerts this year, classical superstar Katherine Jenkins has announced she will be performing further woodland dates next Summer as part of the Forestry Commission’s 2009 live music programme. - 24/11/2008
Virtuoso Vanessa-Mae Announces Summer Show At Westonbirt Arboretum	Vanessa-Mae, the world famous violin virtuoso, has announced a West Country date next summer when she will be appearing at Westonbirt Arboretum as part of the Forestry Commission’s 2009 concert season. - 24/11/2008
Westonbirt Pressies Aren't Just For Christmas	Stuck for original present ideas this Christmas? Take a trip to Westonbirt - The National Arboretum and discover unique and unusual gifts that will give pleasure for years, not just for Christmas. - 10/11/2008
Westonbirt On Red Alert For Autumn	Autumn has arrived at Westonbirt Arboretum. As the days get shorter, this national arboretum is on ‘red alert’ for its world-famous seasonal spectacle, and over the next few weeks the trees will be at their very best. - 13/10/2008
The Big Draw At Bedgebury 2008	Bedgebury National Pinetum & Forest (managed by the Forestry Commission) is delighted to be taking part in The Big Draw for the fourth year running. Bedgebury will be hosting an all day event during half term on Tuesday 28th October; an ideal opportunity for children, families and individuals to get back in touch with their artistic tendencies. - 03/10/2008
Westonbirt’S World-Famous Maples Must Adapt To Climate Change	At the PlantNetwork Conference ‘Climate Change and Planting for the Future’ today (11 September), Dr Richard Jinks of Forest Research – the Forestry Commission’s Research Agency outlines how the Commission is embarking on a full-scale plan to ensure that the world-famous collection of Japanese maples at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum not only weathers climate changes but also thrives in the future. - 11/09/2008
Will We Be Awash With Colour?	With the amount of rain that's fallen throughout August, are we in line for water colours rather than autumn colours this year? Let's hope not. - 01/09/2008
Westonbirt Brightens Those Darker Days	Don't worry about the nights drawing in this autumn and winter. Westonbirt �Arboretum will be bathed in light and colour! Autumn and winter are magical seasons at the Forestry Commission’s national arboretum with blazing red maples, fascinating fungal forays and the hugely popular, illuminated ‘Enchanted Christmas’ trail. - 28/07/2008
Westonbirt Raises The Roof	- 24/07/2008
Westonbirt Set To Be Ablaze With Colour This Autumn	New England or Old England? Why fly halfway round the world and clock up those air miles when one of the world’s finest autumn spectacles is on the doorstep at Westonbirt The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire. - 16/07/2008
Westonbirt Arboretum Reveals Its Playful Nature	Walk the plank, jump over crocodile-infested waters, build a secret den … from this summer children can let their imaginations run wild in new natural play areas hidden among the trees at Westonbirt The National Arboretum. - 18/06/2008
Westonbirt Gets Ready To Rock!	The production crew for the Forestry Commission’s 2008 forest tour will be moving on site early next week in preparation for the forthcoming concerts at Westonbirt - The National Arboretum. Around 30 production and forest staff will be responsible for turning the open recreational space into the concert arena, increasing to a team of over 100 over the weekend. - 13/06/2008
Westonbirt Arboretum Honours Its Army Of Volunteers	Two young redwood trees will be planted to honour the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and celebrate a new Maple Loop walk at the Forestry Commission’s National Arboretum at Westonbirt - 29/05/2008
Westonbirt Festival Of The Tree Spreads Its Roots	Since taking root at Westonbirt the National Arboretum 10 years ago, the celebrated Festival of the Tree has blossomed. And for one week this summer, from 18-25 August, it’s set to draw more people than ever - 19/05/2008
Forests Strike The Right Note	Concerts in English forests by international acts including KT Tunstall, Status Quo and Crowded House this summer aim to raise thousand of pounds to support the woodlands as well as entertaining more than 100,000 people. - 14/05/2008
Summer Days At Westonbirt Arboretum	Summer’s coming and events are hotting up at Westonbirt the National Arboretum. - 12/05/2008
Westonbirt Blooms On Its Wilder Side	Spring is in full bloom at Westonbirt Arboretum. Traditionally May is the month for cherry blossom, azaleas and rhododendrons at the National Arboretum, but take a walk on the wilder side and uncover its best-kept spring secret carpets of bluebells. - 01/05/2008
Zutons New Album And Single - See The Band In The Forest This Summer	New album: You Can Do Anything (June 2nd) Single: Always Right behind You (May 26th) - 14/04/2008
Rare Rhododendrons Set To Be The Stars Of Westonbirt This Spring	Visitors to the National Arboretum, Westonbirt this spring are in for a rare treat. A recent study of the rhododendron collection has revealed previously unidentified specimens that were introduced by the great Victorian plant hunters. - 14/04/2008
First Ever National Beanpole Week	The first ever National Beanpole Week starts on Saturday 19th April. Organisers aim to help reverse the drastic decline of Britain’s coppiced woodlands - 03/04/2008
Go Online Then Go Outside In South West England!	Residents in the South West of England think providing habitats for wildlife is the most important benefit forests bring. And now it is even easier for people to get out and see the wildlife that lives in the region’s woodlands thanks to a new regional Forestry Commission website launched today . - 01/04/2008
Katherine Jenkins Forest Tour Special Guest Announced	Classical / pop crossover act, Blake, has been announced as special guest at Katherine Jenkins forest tour dates this summer. The classically trained foursome's debut album 'Blake' was released in November 07 and immediately went to Number 1 in the UK Classical Album Chart and Top 20 in the UK pop album chart. - 06/03/2008
The Zutons Announce Summer Forest Tour	Seven massive outdoor shows - June 5 to June 28 2008 - 18/02/2008
Crowded House In A Forest!	Crowded House have announced they will be following up last December’s sold out UK arena dates with a further UK and European tour this Summer including playing several shows as part of the Forestry Commission’s annual forest tour. - 04/02/2008
Shakespeare In The Forest	The British Shakespeare Touring Company will be holding an open-air evening performance of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in the Glenbervie Meadow at Alice Holt Forest at 7.30pm on Sat 19 July 2008. - 31/01/2008
Unleash The Dog Lover In You At The National Arboretum, Westonbirt	Cotswold-based author Jilly Cooper will be making a special appearance as a celebrity judge at Dog Days at The National Arboretum, Westonbirt in February. - 10/01/2008
Jools Holland Annouces Summer Concerts	Jools Holland will be appearing at Bedgebury Forest in Kent and Westonbirt Arboretum in Glouscestershire - 09/01/2008
Jools Holland Announces Summer Show At Bedgebury	Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, featuring Marc Almond as special guest vocalist, with Gilson Lavis and guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall, has announced a summer concert at Bedgebury Pinetum & Forest, near Goudhurst, Kent. - 07/01/2008
Status Quo Announce Summer Show At Westonbirt	One of Britain's best loved bands has announced a West Country date for next Summer. The legendary Status Quo will be appearing at The National Arboretum, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, as part of the Forestry Commission's Annual Forest Tour. - 11/12/2007
Westonbirt Lights Up For An Enchanted Christmas	After the amazing natural wonder of autumn colour at the National Arboretum, Westonbirt it’s time for the trees to take centre stage again for the Enchanted Wood. - 10/12/2007
Jools Holland Announces Summer Concert	Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, featuring Gilson Lavis and guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall, has announced 2008 Summer concerts at The National Arboretum, Westonbirt - 03/12/2007
Opera Diva Katherine Jenkins Announces Summer Shows	Classical superstar, Katherine Jenkins, has announced she will be appearing as part of The Forestry Commission’s 2008 Forest Tours next Summer - 19/11/2007
Great Storm Remembered	The Forestry Commission remembers the Great Storm which struck the south east 20 years ago - 15/10/2007
Westonbirt's Tree Experts Notice Shift In Autumn Colour Peak	Autumn colour at the National Arboreta, Westonbirt - recently ranked in the world’s top 30 unmissable spectacles by the Sunday Times Travel Magazine - is expected to arrive early this year as a result of one of the wettest summers on record. - 01/10/2007
Dig, Dig, Dig! - Scouts’ Centenary Planting At Bedgebury	Local Scouts, Cubs and Beavers will be teaming up with Bedgebury National Pinetum in Kent and the Woodland Trust, to plant hundreds of rare trees on Saturday 6th October, to coincide with National Conifer Week. - 24/09/2007
Biblins Youth Get The Shelter They Need	Students learning traditional carpentry from Henry Russell of BBC-TV's "What Did the Romans Do for Us?" programme have been helping to complete a new camping barn at Biblins Youth Camp site in Herefordshire. - 14/09/2007
Don't Miss Out On Gold	With all the debate about whether or not autumn will be early this year, the only way to make sure you don't miss this annual riot of colour is to keep checking the Forestry Commission's website (www.forestry.gov.uk/autumn). - 14/09/2007
Sculptree Auction Stumps Up Spectacular New Records	Visitor numbers for the festival of the Tree at the National Arboretum, Westonbirt, were at an all-time high, with nearly 25,000 people attending. - 29/08/2007
Power Of Nature Gives Offenders A Helping Hand	The Forestry Commission received a prestigious award yesterday in recognition of its work to harness the power of nature to benefit offenders. - 25/07/2007