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.
Let the kids run free, learn some new skills and seek out the shade under the glorious trees. Have a relaxed al fresco brunch or lunch at Maples restaurant, and suitably refreshed stroll the Westonbirt summer trail, discovering trees in all their green seasonal glory - simply pick up a trail leaflet at the Great Oak Hall on arrival. To find out even more about these historic trees download the summer audio trail at www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-audios <http://www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-audios
What's on at Westonbirt this summer...
JULY
Fri 17 July
David Gray - Concert
Tickets £31.50 (subject to booking fee) - Forestry Commission Box Office: tel 01842 814612 or buy on line at www.forestry.gov.uk/music Tickets can also be purchased in person at the arboretum shop (no booking fee) or on the night.
Sat 18 July
Vanessa-Mae - Annual Westonbirt picnic concert with firework finale Vanessa-Mae with her band and the National Symphony Orchestra, and special guests All Angels. Tickets £29.50 (subject to booking fee) from Forestry Commission Box Office: tel 01842 814612 or buy on line at www.forestry.gov.uk/music Tickets can also be purchased at the arboretum shop (no booking fee) or on the night.
Mon 20 - Sat 25 July
Make a Windsor Chair
Six-day chair-making course.
Booking essential. Tel: Paul Hayden on 01373 836051
Sun 26 July
Cancer Research UK Family walk
A midsummer meander organised by the Wiltshire Walk Committee in aid of Cancer Research UK. Walkers take a 5k or 10k route through the arboretum. For all ages - bring children, dogs and picnics. Registration £6. Walkers are encouraged to raise extra sponsorship for Cancer Research UK. Register at http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org or tel: 01684 290137
AUGUST
Mon 3 August
RNLI Walk - Charity walk
5k walk starting at 3pm. Contact Carla Rowley for further details: 01202 336026 or 07785 724404.
Tues 4 - Thurs 6 August
Fabulous Fibres - Family event
Discover plants that provide us with the fibres without which we'd be naked! Have a go at grass weaving, natural dyeing, rope making and papermaking.
Free after admission. Adults £7 Concs, £6 Children £2.
Telephone: 01666 880220. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Wed 6, Tues 11, Wed 19, Tues 25 August
Holford Heritage Tour
A rare opportunity to visit the original residence of Westonbirt's creator Robert Holford, now a school. After lunch, a guided tour of the National Arboretum completes the story. 10am - 3.30pm. £20.00 including morning tea/coffee. Booking essential. Tel: 01666 881200.
Sun 9 August
Westonbirt Wood Sales
Specialist Westonbirt wood sales, 10am to 1pm. All manner of wood and sawn timber, produced from the routine pruning and thinning of specimen trees within the arboretum. Proceeds go to the Friends of Westonbirt, cash or cheques only. Tel: 01666 880220. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Tues 11 - Thurs 13 August
Tree People - Family event
Look closely and you'll find the tree people! Explore characters of the tree world, then search the arboretum for natural 'stuff' to create your own woodland puppet or goblin. Free after admission. Adults £7 Concs, £6 Children £2. Tel: 01666 880220. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Sat 15 August
American Trees - Guided Walk
Discover the remarkable trees and shrubs from across the 'pond'. Hear incredible tales of early plant hunters, and how many of the trees they brought back home still have a profound effect on our landscape and lives. 11am - 1pm. Meet at the Great Oak Hall. Booking essential. Tel: 01666 880220. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Wed 26 August - Tues 1 September
'Shades and Colour' Exhibition
"The Crowd" - Susanna Gilmore Powell, Stephen Clifton and Frank Chapman are professional artists and friends from South Gloucestershire who enjoy painting the colours and forms of nature. Their subjects include flowers, landscapes and tree studies in colour and black and white. Exhibition opening times: Wed 26 August (12 noon - 4pm), Thurs 27 August - Mon 31 August (10am - 4pm), Tues 1 September (10am - 2pm). For further info contact Susanna Gilmore Powell on 01454 773506. email s.gilmorepowell@btinternet.com <mailto:s.gilmorepowell@btinternet.com www.susannagilmorepoowell.co.uk
Mon 24 - Mon 31 August
Festival of the Tree
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. From Monday 24 August, 12 talented sculptors will take up their chainsaws and chisels and carve out fabulous giant sculptures - all recycled from Westonbirt tree trunks, and made ready for auction on Bank Holiday Monday in support of the charity Tree Aid. Open 9am-5pm.
During the festival, admission to the whole arboretum is £8 adults, £7 concs, £3 children (18yrs and under). Discounted tickets for return visits to the festival are £20 adults, £16 concs, £5 children.
Tel: 01666 880220. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Tues 25 August
Willow Structures for your Garden
Spend an enjoyable day making 3-4 structures for your garden - wigwams, fans, trellis, small hurdles. Cost £50. 10.30am - 3.30pm. Booking essential. Tel: Norah Kennedy on 01453 751010
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. More information at www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
- For further information, please contact Gail McKenzie, Communications Officer, Westonbirt - The National Arboretum, on 01666 881 207 email: gail.mckenzie@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
- 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 21,000.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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