Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

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A busy time of year in more ways than one...

Posted in: Blog Propagation Autumn

Today I got to escape my office for a few hours, with the aim of finding suitable locations for some of the 300 young trees and shrubs that have been lovingly grown in our very own Propagation Unit.

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Collections for the arboretum

In the final week of our seed collecting expedition we collected under the expert guidance of Ron Lance, who has led us to places where our target species are.

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Going out with a bang!

Posted in: Blog Autumn

We get lots of phone calls at this time of year – all asking the same questions – when is the best time to visit for autumn colour? When will the maples be at their best?...

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All eyes on the Old Arboretum!

Posted in: Blog Autumn

Today I went out into the Old Arboretum, braving the rain and wind, to see how the colours were looking in our most spectacular season here at Westonbirt.

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The future of Westonbirt Wood Sales

In the next few months we are due to start work on the new Tree Management Centre, as part of Phase Two of the Westonbirt Project.

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Bivouacs and Bacon Butties

On a Friday night in early October, 24 senior guides and their leaders from Mid Gloucestershire Division braved the elements, the wildlife and the dark (even the compost loo), to be the first community group to spend the night at Westonbirt Arboretum.

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The wonders of seed collecting!

Posted in: Blog Research trips

So for most of the past week we have been travelling through the wilds of Missouri in search of Carya seed.

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Top five tips for autumn photography

Posted in: Blog Autumn

We're still early into autumn colour here at Westonbirt, so for our first blog, here’s a different perspective on how to enjoy the spectacular season!...

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Documenting America

Posted in: Blog Research trips

Travelling through Missouri with our plant collectors has been an eye opener to say the least. I’ve been lucky enough to witness seed collecting in action: I’ve been given a pass into the world of the Tree Team!...

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The Hickory hunt continues!

Posted in: Blog Research trips

Yesterday we headed to the Shaw Nature Reserve, which is part of Missouri Botanic Garden. Here we met James Trager, Naturalist at the Shaw Nature Reserve, who joined us in our quest to find the hickory species which are found here.

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American interpretation

Posted in: Blog Research trips

Something I never thought I would do in my life is accompany a seed collecting trip. Indeed I’m not even sure I knew they still happened before I started work at the arboretum!...

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The pink pegs

You may have wondered what the pink pegs are next to the Welcome Building. Some of you have already guessed that these pegs are marking out the route of the new Treetop Walkway!...

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Our arrival to America...

Posted in: Blog Research trips

Having arrived in Chicago on Monday afternoon, we spent a day at the marvellous Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois on Tuesday where we utilised the herbarium before heading to the living collection.

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We're going on a Hickory hunt!

Posted in: Blog Research trips

Next week, Tree Team supervisor Rich Townsend, RBG Wakehurst Place arborist Jon Harmer and I are jetting off to the United States on a rather exciting mission.

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Our evolving landscape

If you have ventured into Silk Wood recently you may well have noticed our Tree Team hard at work in Maple Loop, which is an area was that was once a forest research plot packed full of hybrid larch trees.

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