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Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

Blog - Tree management

Planting 6,700 trees with the help of community groups

Local community groups, schools and colleges joined forces to help plant 3,400 trees at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum this November to April to reach a total of 6,700 since last year.

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Installing a Tree Growth Monitoring Station

The Silk Wood Community Planting Project team were recently joined by Climate Scientists from Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission, to install a Tree Growth Monitoring Station at the Silk Wood Community Planting Project site.

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Woodland Obscura

Lights, camera, Westonbirt! Students and artist Justin Quinnell explored the magic of pinhole photography, from giant eyeball cameras to self-made turmeric paper. They even used cream crackers and cans to capture stunning images of the trees they helped plant. See their incredible results!...

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Tree of the month: Dogwood

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. This month it's Dogwood...

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Storms & Sorbus

Winter storms took their toll, but our volunteers stepped up! Discover how we rallied together to repair the damage and ensure the survival of young trees at our planting site in our latest update.

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The Sound of the Underground

Eco-acoustics, or acoustic ecology, is the study of sound in the environment – including human generated noise (anthrophony), sounds generated by nature (biophony), or even sounds of the earth such as wind, waves, and geological movements (geophony).

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A Maple Odyssey in Greece

Ever wondered where the seeds for our stunning trees come from? Join us on a thrilling journey to the Mediterranean, as we delve into the latest seed collecting expedition undertaken by the experts at Westonbirt Arboretum.

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Countryfile at Westonbirt Arboretum

If your Sunday evening viewing has you captivated by the awesome autumn beauty and historic heritage of The National Arboretum, you’re not alone. The awe-inspiring collection of Japanese Acers, Oak trees, and Whitebeams are world-famous, transforming the landscape in a dazzling array of yellow, orange, and crimson hues in autumn.

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A Summer of Success – in numbers

With the crisp autumn air and shorter days upon us, let’s revisit the warmer, albeit wetter, months of the Silk Wood Community Planting Project.

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Tree of the month: Crab apple

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project – this October it's crab apple.

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Identity Parade

Sun, plants, and learning! Last month, we joined a Field Studies Council course to learn how to identify woodland plants. It was a fantastic two days of exploring the beautiful Silk Wood and gaining new knowledge about our local ecosystem.

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Caring Connections

Changes Bristol recently spent a day at Westonbirt Arboretum, nurturing saplings and learning about the vital role forests play in our ecosystem. Discover how this rewarding experience benefitted both their mental well-being and the planet.

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Saplings and Spikes

This Volunteers Week, see how our amazing team helped the saplings thrive at Silk Wood. They tackled the thistles and brambles, making way for easier access and protecting the new trees. Read more about the hard work, the wildlife encounters, and the "poo-dunnit" mystery!...

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