Blog - Staff and trustees

Hugh Angus leaves the Forestry Commission and Westonbirt, The National Arboretum after 24 years this September.

March has arrived and for the first time since any of us can remember, the trauma of our January renewals is over already!...

Not the best week at Westonbirt, as the staff have been consulted on the Public Forest Estate debate and the restructuring within the Forestry Commission which will affect our colleagues here quite severely.

Phew, it’s all over and what an autumn it’s been! The evidence of a long and glorious leaf display now lies on the ground like the spent party poppers after a wild party.

Along with planting this time of year, we also remove trees deemed to be hazardous. Although it is always sad to see these large trees come down, it is part of the ongoing management cycle of any collection.

This has been the most magical of all possible first Christmases at Westonbirt. Forget all the plastic ‘Winter Wonderland’ experiences out there, the snow has turned Westonbirt into the Real Thing...

This is my first blog as Project Director, so in time honoured Blind Date fashion I thought I’d tell you what my name is and ‘whur’ I come from (as my in laws are from Liverpool, I reckon I’m allowed to make Scouse jokes…).