WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM HONOURS ITS ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS
 Media opportunity:
WHAT: John Weir, Director of Westonbirt Arboretum and Stephen Segar, Chairman of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, plant a pair of young giant redwood trees in front of volunteers, Friends and Forestry Commission staff to mark the completion of the Maple Loop and pay tribute to its hugely valued volunteers.
WHERE: Maple Loop in Silk Wood, Westonbirt Arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire.
WHEN: Thursday 5 June at 4.00pm Tree planting and speeches.
Media who would like to attend should contact the Arboretum’s Communications Officer (see below) to check details.
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, on Thursday 5 June as part of the national Volunteers’ Week.
The trees will be planted by John Weir, Director of Westonbirt Arboretum, and Stephen Segar, Chairman of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.
Maple Loop is a new walk that takes in the world-famous Japanese maple collection, and is set to become one of the highlights of the Arboretum’s Silk Wood. It has been created with the support of the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.
John Weir, Director of Westonbirt Arboretum, says:
“We are celebrating a unique partnership between the Forestry Commission and the Friends that has been forged over 23 years.
With the invaluable support of over 300 volunteers, we are caring for and developing this world-class arboretum both for our thousands of visitors and for future generations.”
Volunteers at Westonbirt Arboretum contribute in many ways from helping to look after the Tree Collection to assisting visitors.
Westonbirt Arboretum is open all year round from 9am-8pm, or dusk if earlier. During spring and summer (apart from the week of Festival of the Tree), admission to the whole arboretum is £7 for adults (£6 concessions), £2 for children (18yrs and under). Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum have free admission to the Arboretum, as well as to other major gardens across the UK.
Westonbirt Arboretum 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 about Westonbirt Arboretum go to www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt ENDS
For further information, please contact Gail McKenzie, Communications Officer, Westonbirt The National Arboretum, on 01666 881 207
email: gail.mckenzie@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. 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 over 360,000 a year.
2. 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.
3. Westonbirt is home to the National Japanese Maple (Acer) Collection, with over 300 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. Today, Westonbirt is in the process of creating the world’s best collection of maples.
4. The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum was established in 1985 and supports the Forestry Commission in managing the National Arboretum and fulfilling its mission to ‘connect people with trees to improve the quality of life’. This is achieved through funding of projects and direct volunteer assistance across many areas of activity. Friends membership is now over 21,000.
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
e-mail: gail.mckenzie@forestry.gsi.gov.uk |