Not completion, just the end of the beginning
Together with Phase 2 this marks the completion of something that started with ideas being discussed over 20 years ago.
My predecessor, Simon Toomer, and I say in our foreword to the report: “The ‘Westonbirt Project’ has brought the arboretum into the 21st Century and utterly transformed its ability to meet its mission. Through carefully considered infrastructural improvements and imaginative approaches to interpretation and engagement, Westonbirt has taken a step to change in its accessibility and value for enjoyment and learning.”
The report is available to view on the FOWA website at the link below. The two page executive summary gives an overview of the wide scope and many achievements; look further and you’ll see the attention to detail and the outcomes considered alongside the original rationale.
In this magazine it’s important to pay tribute to the FOWA past Chairman, Stephen Segar OBE, who galvanised trustees and members into championing a project larger than anything undertaken before. In the context of the economic downturn it was also a bold move by the Forestry Commission Chief Executive Simon Hodgson in 2009 to invest in the resources necessary to develop a credible plan. The end result is a much more sustainable basis for conserving and funding the arboretum."The ‘Westonbirt Project’ has brought the arboretum into the 21st Century and utterly transformed its ability to meet its mission."
I’ve described it as end of the beginning because the project has a living and growing legacy. We're continuing the community programme; these and other changes, many of which are made possible thanks to support from FOWA, have enhanced interpretation resources and are appointing a collections manager to help better care for the collection. These and other changes give a great springboard for the future.
Click here to view the report online.
