Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

Blog - Conservation

Top 4 birds to see at Westonbirt this winter

Winter is a great time to start birdwatching at Westonbirt Arboretum, many trees are without leaves, making it easier to spot them and get a closer look. And, during the winter months some birds are pretty vocal, making their presence known!...

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Clearing the way

Silk Wood is stirring. Two years after the loss of its ash trees, this community woodland is poised for a comeback as we embark on the first phase of a three-year regeneration project.

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Helping to save a species from extinction

King Charles III joined staff at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum to plant a critically endangered tree this week.

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Tree of the month: Oriental spruce

Native to the Caucasus and the Pontic Mountains of northeastern Turkey, this month's tree of the month is among the most attractive spruces, with a dense form with short branches.

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Tree of the month: Shagbark hickory

This October we're highlighting the shagbark hickory tree which is a golden highlight of this season, find out more...

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Silk Wood Community Planting Project: Baseline monitoring

Over the summer, a team of volunteers conducted a baseline survey in Silk Wood to discover which flora and fauna are present after a period of fallow following on from ash tree felling due to Chalara.

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Silk Wood Community Planting Project: Phase One funded

We’re thrilled to announce that Westonbirt Arboretum has raised over £350,000 towards Phase One of the ‘Silk Wood Community Planting Project’.

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Woodland Design Workshops Inspires Young People

The Silk Wood Community Planting Project is a great example of how schoolchildren can be involved in the design and management of their local environment. Find out more about the recent forest design workshops...

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Tree of the month: Sorbus commixta

As autumn arrives and the leaves begin to turn, this time of year is also a wonderful time to explore the diversity of fruits found around the arboretum. Take a closer look at the Japanese rowan in this month's blog...

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Tree of the month: Bottlebrush buckeye

The bottlebrush buckeye is a beautiful shrub that gets its name from its bottlebrush-like inflorescences. The white flowers with red anthers bloom in August, making the bottlebrush buckeye a truly spectacular sight. Find out more...

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Coppicing: A New Shelter

Earlier this year, the Coppice Regeneration Project saw the completion of a purpose-built shelter for the Coppice compound at Westonbirt Arboretum, thanks to funding from The Friends through the continued support of members and donors. Find out more...

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Silk Wood Community Planting Project - A trip to Delamere Nursery

After introducing Oscar and his role a couple of months ago, he has been busy behind the scenes planning and making progress getting ready for the project to regenerate a part of Silk Wood. Read on to learn about his trip to Delamere Nursery...

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Tree of the month: Yellow-leaved Indian bean tree

Dan and Rosie give insight on the Yellow-leaved Indian bean tree this month, one of Westonbirt's summer showstoppers...

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Protecting Tilia trees: How members are helping to research tree diseases

Tilia trees are an important part of the UK's woodlands and urban forests. Helene Kile is a first-year PhD student at the University of the West of England (UWE) researching the cause of bleeding cankers on Tilia trees. Find out more...

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Coppicing: A traditional forestry practice

Coppicing is a traditional forestry practice with many benefits for both the environment and human society. Learn more about this sustainable forestry practice and how it is being used to restore derelict coppice at Westonbirt.

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