SPRING DELIGHTS AT WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM

Added: (Wed Jan 21 2004)

Pressbox (Press Release) - January 2004

PRESS RELEASE

SPRING DELIGHTS AT WESTONBIRT

Asiatic Magnolias the size of dinner plates


The Forestry Commission’s Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire may be famous for its autumn colour but one of its best kept secrets is the spectacular spring blooms displayed by the exotic magnolias, camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas from late February onwards.

The numerous flowering trees and shrubs planted over Westonbirt’s 200 year history now present us with a magnificent collection that still includes some of the world’s most exotic species first collected by the Victorian plant hunters.

Special spring trails designed by Westonbirt’s Curator Simon Toomer will guide you to the very best of the spring colour including the magnificent display of Asiatic Magnolias which are described by visitors as ‘having flowers the size of dinner plates’.

‘Two of the first Magnolias to flower between mid March and early April are the Asian Pink Tulip Tree Magnolia campbelii’ says Simon and the tallest magnolia in Britain (over 90ft tall), the Goddess Magnolia, Magnolia sprengeri ‘Divi’.

‘Visitors to Westonbirt in late April can lose themselves in the beautiful sea of bluebells in Silk Wood and the old Arboretum or the flowering cherries in the Cherry Glade. We also have perfect conditions for growing camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas with displays peaking in April.

‘If after experiencing the more exotic displays in late spring you decide to venture onto the open downland between the Old Arboretum and Silk Wood

you will come across drifts of wild flowers including Common Spotted and Bee Orchids.’

Botanist Tony Titchen focuses on ‘How to understand Japanese flowering Cherries’ at an event organised for Sunday 25 April.

On Sunday 16 May Tony will share his knowledge on ‘How to identify spring flowers at Westonbirt’ between 1pm – 3.30pm price £13.50.

The booking number for both events is 01666 880147.

Westonbirt is open all year between 10am and sunset. The cost of admission between April and 6 June is £6.00 for adults, £5 concessions, family £12.50 and children £1 or free if under 5. For details of prices at other times of the year and special events telephone 01666 880 220.

Westonbirt Arboretum is situated three miles south west of Tetbury on the A433 (Tetbury to Bath Road). 10 miles north east of Junction 18 of the M4 and south east of junction 13 of the M5.

To arrange a visit or request photographs of Westonbirt in spring contact:
Matthew Haynes at Westonbirt Arboretum 01666 881 206 or
Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on 01892 616647.

Notes to Editors

The National Arboreta

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’s originator -Robert Holford - laid


out his tree garden according to aesthetic appeal rather than 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. His 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 the country.


Bedgebury Pinetum in Goudhurst, Kent was originally the pleasure gardens for what is now Bedgebury School and was developed as part of a joint venture between the Forestry Commission and Kew to save the conifers threatened by pollution in London.

Started in1925, this marvellous collection has developed into the "most comprehensively complete" collection on one site in the world, the with over 7,000 specimen trees on the 80 Hectare site. These trees represent coniferous species throughout the temperate world in all their variety of size, shape and colour.

Originally designed by William Dallimore, a notable botanist for Kew, the Pinetum enjoys historic links with Gardens both at Kew and Wakehurst.

The collection includes rare, historically important and endangered trees and is home to some 91 vulnerable or critically endangered species and five NCCPG National Collections, Yew, Juniper, and Lawson Cypress, Leyland Cypress, Thuja.

Bedgebury boasts the tallest tree in Kent, which is aptly named ‘The Old Man of Kent’.