It’s easy for the festive season to lose its allure for us adults. Yet for many children Christmas still represents one of the most magical times of the year.

Recreating that element of awe and wonder experienced in early childhood is an annual challenge for mums and dads hoping that their offspring will remain innocent for another year. Westonbirt Arboretum’s Enchanted Wood brings the full magic of Christmas to life for children and adults alike.

Westonbirt’s twelve days of Christmas

For twelve days in December (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the run up to Christmas), Westonbirt Arboretum is transformed into a winter wonderland with a mile long illuminated trail lighting up the trees at night to create a magical, night-time walk through the Old Arboretum (see images).

This Christmas, the Enchanted Wood will also be filled with wood and wire sculptures created by children from three local secondary schools as part of a regional sculpture project inspired by trees.

Entry to the Enchanted Wood costs £6 adults/£2 children/concessions £5.00. No other admission charges apply.

Christmas tree corner

The first port of call for any visit to Westonbirt Arboretum during the festive season is Christmas Tree corner at the arboretum Plant Centre.
Here you can choose a freshly cut Christmas tree from the Arboretum Plant Centre to take home and decorate your front room.

The choice of trees is as good as you would expect from the National Arboretum, with Norway Spruce, Fraser Fir, Noble Fir, Nordman Fir and Lodgepole Pine to choose from. These splendid trees range from 4 foot to 10 foot tall. Some container plants will also be available so that the trees can be enjoyed over the festive season and then planted out in the garden.

The Lodgepole pine – traditionally used as Christmas trees in the United States – is likely to be a popular choice this year. It has very attractive bushy foliage, gives off a lovely pine smell and keeps its
needles very well.

These magnificent trees go on sale on December 1st from the Plant Centre, which is open from 10am-5pm, seven days per week, 1st – 26th December.

With each Christmas tree sold Westonbirt will be giving away a sapling fir to plant in a pot or in your own garden.

Father Christmas’ forest grotto

Father Christmas’ atmospheric grotto fails to disappoint even the most grown-up children. Wrapped up warm in gloves and scarves, children come from far and wide to pay a special visit to Santa and pocket a little gift as a token of their magical encounter.

The grotto, situated at the Plant Centre, is open from 10am-5pm on Westonbirt’s twelve days of Christmas and costs £3 per child.

Arrive before 5pm to buy your Christmas tree and visit Santa’s grotto, then take your family on a trip through the Enchanted Wood. You can even stay for dinner:

Evening Christmas Carvery (pre booking only)

New for 2005, Maples restaurant is offering a two-course Christmas dinner every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening in December. For only
£12.95 you will get a traditional Christmas dinner, Christmas pudding and brandy sauce finished off with a freshly-brewed coffee or tea.

Why not book for you and a few friends, or even your work colleagues?
You can then go for an illuminating walk through the Enchanted Wood, listen to the magic of Christmas carols sung live by a variety of visiting choirs and enjoy all of the delights that the arboretum has to offer at this time. Charges apply for the Enchanted Wood, but no other admission charges apply during December.

Tables are available for bookings between 5.30-7.30pm. Bookings are being taken on 01666 880064

Notes to editors

For press enquiries please contact CSPR on 0870 442 0600 or email charlotte@cspr.uk.com

Westonbirt’s 12 days of Christmas are:

December 2 /3 /4 /9 /10 /11 /16 /17 /18 /21/22/23

For more information, visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt or phone the arboretum on 01666 881 220

Westonbirt 2006 – The National Arboretum anniversary year.

Westonbirt Arboretum is renowned worldwide for its tree and shrub collection. Today the collection contains around 18,000 specimens in total, including almost half of those woody plants known to grow in the temperate climate zone covering some 600 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Indeed, unlike many arboreta, Westonbirt was laid out in 1829 for aesthetic appeal by its founder Robert Holford rather than for scientific or geographical reasons. Its importance is recognised by the English Heritage’s ‘Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historical Interest’ as a Grade 1 Listed Landscape. Visitors today can enjoy a relaxing and unique day out amongst some of the tallest, oldest and rarest trees and shrubs in the country.

Westonbirt Arboretum possesses one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in the country. First planted in the mid-nineteenth century by wealthy aristocrat Robert Staynor Holford, it was further developed and cared for by his son Sir George Holford until his death in 1926.
Both men combined their love of plants with an eye for design and it was their skill in planting that resulted in the superb landscapes that
visitors enjoy today. Of particular renown are the Japanese maples
that provide the backbone to one of the finest displays of autumn colour to be seen.

Since 1956 the arboretum has been owned and managed by The Forestry Commission, giving public access to the grounds for the first time as well as providing the benefits of education, recreation and conservation. The year 2006 is a double celebration for Westonbirt Arboretum – marking both 50 years of Forestry Commission management and the 21st anniversary of The Friends – the registered charity established to support the Forestry Commission in the upkeep and development of the Arboretum.

Over 350,000 visitors now visit the arboretum annually, many taking part in the range of events and courses that are organised throughout the year. As well a well-stocked plant centre and shop, ‘Maples’ restaurant provides a range of good food with indoor and terrace dining areas.

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 an information point for visitors. Membership of ‘The Friends’ is open to everyone and includes free entry to the arboretum as well as a range of other benefits.