Managing Westonbirt's Landscape

 

Today, Westonbirt's landscape is recognised as of international significance and as such is registered as a Grade One historic garden by English Heritage. This designation is the result of the careful picturesque landscape principles employed by Robert Holford, the arboretum's creator and as present day managers, the Forestry Commission seeks to maintain these principles through its management. This section details our landscape management practices.

An important aspect of landscape management is recognising the essential qualities found in different areas of the arboretum, as the principles of the picturesque style were not followed in all parts of the arboretum in equal measure.  The outline of the formal avenues for example, is neither intricate nor varied.  The shelter-belts were planted out of necessity as opposed to picturesque beauty and some areas of original woodland cover (such as Down Plantation) were probably planted for game cover.  Over the years though, these plantations have been utilised to shelter and display an ever-increasing range of trees and shrubs, arranged in a picturesque manner.

Within the arboretum we now recognise a number of distinct landscape types:

1. Original plantation (Down Covert, Down Plantation and Wigmore Bottom) within which are created open glades with informal ornamental planting
2. Informal ornamental planting along the rides and walks that cut through the original Silkwood, Down Covert and Down Plantation (creating so-called ‘ribbon planting’)
3. Specific clump and specimen planting within original arboretum boundaries
4. Specific clump and specimen planting on open down
5. Woodland cover – remains of Down Plantation
6. Formal avenue planting
7. Shelter-belt

The first five types in particular lend themselves to Holford’s picturesque planting style.  The remaining two landscape types are either formal or functional plantings, governed by principles other than those of the picturesque style. They have nevertheless been included in the landscape plan as they are obviously part of the original arboretum.