EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY AT WESTONBIRT
Pretty pooches, super woofers and happy hounds of all varieties are all invited to bring their owners along to a special weekend of canine celebrations at Westonbirt Arboretum.
Westonbirt’s “Dog Days” weekend will be held at the Forestry Commission’s world-famous arboretum, near Tetbury, Gloucestershire, on Saturday and Sunday the 18th and 19th of February.
And it will feature the first UK heat of Scruffts 2006, the nation’s favourite cross-breed competition, on the Sunday, but with special discount tickets so that visitors can turn it into a fun-packed weekend for all the family – whether they’ve got a dog or not!
Saturday’s line-up includes those heroic hounds from search and rescue (SARDA), a “fly ball” contest, and the Kennel Club’s Good Citizens display. (Is your dog a good citizen? Come along and find out!). Saturday visitors can return on the Sunday with half-price entry for more fun in the arena, including fund-raising competitions for the RSPCA and the opening heat of Scruffts.
And don’t miss out on a walk through the arboretum’s Silk Wood, where the whole family will be able to get involved in a treasure trail with a prize for their pet at the end.
Scruffts is the Kennel Club’s hugely enjoyable, family-orientated, cross-breed canine competition. Each entrant will have a few minutes in the spotlight to dazzle the judges in the following four classes:
· Most Handsome Crossbreed Dog 6 months - 7 years;
· Prettiest Crossbreed Bitch 6 months - 7 years;
· Child's Best Friend 6 months - 12 years (handled by a young person between 6 and 16 years old); and
· Golden Oldie Crossbreed 8 years - 12 years.
Entry to each class is £1, with all money raised going to the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. The winners from each heat will be invited to Discover Dogs in 2006 for the Grand Final at Earls Court 2. (See notes below.)
No dog’s day would be complete without a trip to the Exhibitor Marquee, where pooches will be able to pester their owners to buy them a new toy. As well as plenty of pet treats, they’ll find crafts and natural products for humans to enjoy too!
Hosted by the Forestry Commission and supported by the Kennel Club, Dog Days is a celebration of dogs, health, nature and country living, and is expected to attract more than 4000 visitors.
Normal admission charges to the arboretum apply: £5 adults; £4 concessions; £1 children. Dog Days programmes cost £3 and include details of the treasure trail route. 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 more information, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt or call the arboretum on 01666 881220.
· Westonbirt 2006 – The National Arboretum anniversary year.
Notes to editor:
1. Scruffts is a competition for cross-breed dogs - pedigree dogs, therefore, are not eligible for entry. Dogs must be more than 6 months and less than 12 years old to enter. Scruffts rosettes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each class. Only 1st-place winners in each class will be eligible for the final in November. However, in the event of a 1st-place winner not being able to attend the final, the 2nd or 3rd-place winners will be invited to attend in their place.
2. Although Scruffts is a fun competition, judges will also be checking that the dogs have the following qualities: good character, good health, and good temperament with people and other dogs.
3. For further information about Scruffts, call the Scruffts hotline, 020 7518 1012, between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, or contact The Kennel Club, 1-5 Clarges Street, Piccadilly, London W1J 8AB.
4. Westonbirt Arboretum, the National Arboretum, is renowned worldwide for its tree and shrub collection. It contains about 18,000 specimens, including almost half of those woody plants known to grow in the temperate climate zone, and 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 Listed Landscape.
5. Westonbirt Arboretum was established in 1829 by Robert Holford, and later developed by his son, George Holford. Much of Westonbirt’s renowned autumn colour can be traced back to Sir George’s plantings of Japanese maples between 1850 and 1875, some 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 amongst some of the tallest, oldest and rarest trees and shrubs in Britain.
6. Westonbirt is home to the National Maple (Acer) Collection, with 180 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 1870.
7. The Forestry Commission is supported in its management of the arboretum by the charity, The Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum. Their headquarters in The Great Oak Hall provides wedding and conference facilities as well as visitor information. Membership of The Friends is open to everyone and includes free entry to the arboretum as well as a range of other benefits.
For press enquiries contact CSPR on 0870 442 0600 or email charlotte@cspr.uk.com
|