Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 27 November to 20 December 5.00 - 8.30pm (last entry onto the site 7.15pm). Admission: £8 adults, £7 concs, £4 children (5-18 years)
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.
Meet Father Christmas and sing along to some carols, and pop into the Forest Shop for a host of Christmas present ideas. Make a really special evening of it with the Christmas carvery at Westonbirt's Maples restaurant - open 5.30-7.30pm serving a two-course traditional dinner. Cost £15.95 per head or £8.95 for children (vegetarian option available). Booking essential, tel: 01666 880558 or email maplesrestaurant@btconnect.com
Sustainably sourced Christmas trees will also be on sale at Westonbirt's specialist Plant Centre from 1 December, between 10am and 5pm.
Other Westonbirt treats in store in the countdown to Christmas...
Sunday 1 November - Sunday 6 December
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday meet the RSPB in the education room.
Sunday 1 and Saturday 7 November
AUTUMN PHOTOGRAPHIC WORKSHOP
Join landscape photographer Sarah Howard and photograph the stunning autumn colours at Westonbirt. Learn to improve your photography, create images with impact and develop your creativity. All levels of ability welcome, maximum four people, cost £120. For further information, contact Sarah on 07760 498112 and go to www.imageseen.co.uk and www.sarahhowardphotography.com
Sunday 8 November
WOOD SALES
Specialist wood sales held on the second Sunday of every month from 10am to 1pm, from the routine pruning and thinning of specimen trees within the arboretum. Proceeds to the Friends of Westonbirt, cash or cheques acceptable. Free on admission.
Saturday 21 - Sunday 22 November
WATTLE HURDLE COURSE
Learn to split hazel, twist it and build a weave. This is a fairly strenuous two days, but at the end you should have your own small hurdle to take away and a good grounding in basic greenwood techniques. All tools provided. Cost £110 including materials. Booking essential. Contact Brian Williamson 01453 790666.
Tuesday 1 to Thursday 24 December
REINDEER TRAIL - Family Event
Discover the reasons behind many of our festive traditions and help Santa find his missing reindeer. Free after admission. Pay and Display Car parking at £5 per car.
Thursday 3 - Friday 4 December
PRACTICAL SMALL WOODLAND MANAGEMENT COURSE A very hands-on course looking at the use of billhooks and bowsaws, basic tree felling techniques, building and maintaining fires, sorting and grading products and stacking and splitting firewood. The course will not cover the use of power tools. All tools provided. Cost £90. Booking essential. Contact Brian Williamson on 01453 790666.
Saturday 5 December
TREE DRESSING - Family Event
Discover what trees mean to people around the world, and think about what they mean to you. Create your own natural tree decoration. 10.30am to 4pm. Pay and Display Car parking at £5 per car.
Sunday 13 December
WOOD SALES
Specialist wood sales held on the second Sunday of every month from 10am to 1pm, from the routine pruning and thinning of specimen trees within the arboretum. Proceeds to the Friends of Westonbirt and cash or cheques acceptable. Pay and Display Car parking at £5 per car.
Westonbirt Arboretum is managed by the Forestry Commission. It is open all year round, and is three miles south west of Tetbury on the A433 (Tetbury to Bath Road). It is 10 miles north east of Junction 18 of the M4, and south-east of junction 13 of the M5.
For further information go to www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt or tel: 01666 880220
ENDS
For press enquiries, please contact Gail McKenzie, Communications Officer, Westonbirt - The National Arboretum, on 01666 881 207, or email: gail.mckenzie@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Image of Enchanted Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum - credit Westonbirt Arboretum/Rob Cousins
2. Westonbirt - The National Arboretum is managed by the Forestry Commission and renowned worldwide for its tree and shrub collection. It contains nearly 16,000 specimens, including almost half of the woody plants known to grow in the world's temperate climate zone. It covers 600 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Its importance is recognised by English Heritage's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historical Interest as a Grade 1 registered Landscape. Visitor numbers are 350,000 a year, with a membership of over 23,000.
3. Westonbirt Arboretum was established in the 1850s by wealthy landowner Robert Holford, and later developed by his son George Holford. Much of Westonbirt's renowned autumn colour is credited to Sir George's plantings of Japanese maples between 1875 and 1900, many of which are still alive today. Unlike many arboreta, Westonbirt is laid out according to aesthetic appeal rather than scientific or geographical criteria, and the Holfords' legacy is open for all to enjoy - a beautiful, relaxing and unique day out among some of the tallest, oldest and rarest trees and shrubs in Britain.
4. Westonbirt is home to the National Japanese Maple (Acer) Collection, with over 350 different types in the collection. The Forestry Commission opened Westonbirt Arboretum to the public in 1961, and in 1966 a new Acer Glade was established, alongside the original one planted by Robert and George Holford in 1875.
5. The Forestry Commission is the government department responsible in England for protecting, expanding and promoting the sustainable management of woods and forests and increasing their value to society and the environment. Forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands. Further information can be found at www.forestry.gov.uk