The Friends' Quiz: Spring-Summer 2023
Are you ready to put your knowledge to the test? Take our member's quiz and see how much you really know about Westonbirt Arboretum.
Scroll or click here to find quiz answers.
Quiz Questions
Be aware that there may be more than one correct answer and that the odd ‘spoof option’ could have been slipped in!
Easy
1. The 3 Giant Redwoods near Down Gate are known as ‘The Three Sisters’. When were the trees planted?
a. 1854
b. 1861
c. 1863
2. Which of these trees at Westonbirt has the largest cone?
a. Grand Fir
b. Holford Pine
c. Giant Redwood
3. The oldest Tree at Westonbirt belongs to which species?
a. Common Yew
b. English Oak
c. Small-leafed Lime
4. Westonbirt Hope is a...?
a. Magnolia
b. Rhododendron
c. Bookies favourite
Tricky
5. On marrying, Robert Holford’s son George acquired a stepson, Stewart. What did he become?
a. Equerry to the King
b. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
c. Head of MI6
6. The Paperbark Maple just inside Down Gate was planted on this spot by?
a. Robert Holford, mid1800s
b. George Holford, early 1900s
c. Forestry Commission, 1950’s
7. There are three ‘Royal’ Hollies along Mitchell Drive. Which of these is female?
a. Golden King
b. Golden Queen
c. Blue Prince
8. Which one of these is the odd one out?
a. The Celery Topped Pine
b. Holford Pine
c. Norfolk Pine
Trickier
9. In 2017 a shelter was built, using Westonbirt wood, to celebrate the first 4 years of its Community Programme. How many shingles were made?
a. 150
b. 373
c. 400
10. In winter we have cattle grazing on the Downs at Westonbirt. Why?
a. They reduce the mowing workload
b. They provide a natural fertiliser
c. Grazing encourages biodiversity
11. In 2016 The Tree Team collected seed from S. Italy. Which of these species did they gather?
a. Common Yew
b. Fusilli Birch
c. Small-Leafed Lime
12. Which Plant Hunter heard a story of hunting grizzly bears, only to discover the Giant Redwood?
a. William Lobb
b. David Douglas
c. Ernest Wilson
Quiz Answers
Easy
1. B
The ‘Three Sisters’ were planted in 1861 by Robert Holford, for his three daughters: Margaret, Evelyn and Alice.
2. B
The Holford Pine has the largest cone. The Holford Pine was discovered to have hybridised at Westonbirt from the Mexican White Pine and the Bhutan Pine, hence the Holford name.
3. C
The oldest ‘Tree’ in the Arboretum is the ‘2,000 year old’ small-leafed Lime in Silk Wood. This tree has been regularly coppiced over time, which explains its unusual shape and size.
4. A
Westonbirt Hope is a Magnolia named during the Covid year of 2020.
Tricky
5. C
George Holford’s stepson, Stewart Menzies, was Head of MI6 in WW2. As the Spy Master to Winston Churchill he was known as ‘C’ and thus became the model for Ian Fleming’s ‘M’ in the James Bond novels. When not in London, he lived at Luckington and is said to have buried espionage funds in Silk Wood. In case you thought of looking, they are no longer there!
6. C
The Paperbark Maple near Down Gate was transplanted by the Forestry Commission sometime in the 1950s.
7. A
The female ‘Royal Holly’ along Mitchell Drive is Golden King
8. B
The Holford Pine is the ‘odd one out’ as it is the only true pine among these species.
Trickier
9. C
In 2017, 400 shingles were made for the shelter built to celebrate the Community Programme.
10. C
Grazing cattle on the Downs encourages biodiversity because it helps to keep the grass under control in a way that promotes the summer growth of wild flowers and their pollinators.
11. A
In 2016 the Tree Team collected seed from the Common Yew in order to propagate plants with greater tolerance to hot and dry conditions. (Do you remember the ‘April fool’s spaghetti tree.’?)
12. A
In 1853 it was William Lobb who heard the story of hunting grizzly bears that led the discovery of the Giant Redwood. Having gathered seed Lobb was then faced with the decision whether to make for home immediately with the precious collection and thus cut short his planned visit or complete his contract and stay in North America. He decided to return home and on arrival his employer, nurseryman James Veitch, accepted his early return and was delighted with the new introduction. The resulting seedlings sold like hot cakes. In September 1854 Robert Holford was one of the first purchasers. He paid £2–2s per plant (or about £200 in today’s money).
How did you do?
0-4 Seedling - keep growing your Westonbirt knowledge!
5-8 Sapling - your Westonbirt knowledge is branching out nicely!
9-12 Mighty Oak - you're a true Westonbirt expert, keep up the great work!
