For information on a café closure, a Winter Tree Walk and the Tree Health Centre Construction Plans, see here.

Wednesday 20^th November 2019

“Armenia

A beautiful country”

A talk by Norman Blow on the history of Armenia and his connections with that country with colour slides of visits spanning twenty years.

The Library, Malton School, Middlecave Road, Malton, YO17 7NH

Time: 7.30

Admission: Friends FOC, Visitors, are very welcome, £4.00.

The Yorkshire Arboretum is offering free admission to all who visit between Saturday 23rd and Saturday 30th November, to commemorate National Tree Week 2019 and the close of its 40th anniversary year.

The arboretum will be hosting events to celebrate National Tree Week, led by Director Dr John Grimshaw, including a Winter Tree Walk on Wed 27th. Visitors can reserve their place by contacting the arboretum on 01653 648598. A day course called Talking Pines takes place on Mon 25th, exploring the arboretum’s pines and other conifers, tickets for which can be purchased from the Yorkshire Arboretum website. The walks will explore the rich diversity of the arboretum, and John will be on hand to offer advice on planting and care in your own garden.

2019 has been an important year for the Yorkshire Arboretum. An ongoing development campaign has secured funding to enable us to build the UK’s first Tree Health Centre – a purpose-built facility to expand public awareness about the threats to our trees from pests and diseases, and the need to keep our trees healthy – work will begin in January 2020. Funding for the project has come from the Peter Sowerby Foundation, the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund and the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding (YNYER) LEP, and private donations.

Yorkshire Arboretum Director Dr John Grimshaw says: “We are delighted to offer free entry as we close out the 2019 season. National Tree Week is vital in raising awareness of the need to plant new trees and nurture those we already have. Opening the arboretum free-of-charge is a wonderful way to spread the word. Following one of our tree trails is a great way to explore, and our interpretation boards contain more than a few surprising facts demonstrating just how important trees are to us.”

North Yorkshire’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner is asking for five minutes of your time this weekend to create a county-wide snapshot of concerns about illegal drugs.
Julia Mulligan wants to capture the views, concerns and insight of residents so she can present those to key partners and agencies involved in addressing the challenges at a North Yorkshire Drugs Summit – but we need you to act quickly, the survey is only open until 1pm on Monday to create a real-time snapshot.
The Summit, on Tuesday (12 November), was called for by Julia to understand the issues caused by illegal drugs across the county which she believes are on the rise. It will bring together organisations including North Yorkshire Police, the Public Health Team, County Council and Changing Lives.
The short survey asks what you have seen and heard taking place where you live, the impact you believe drugs are having in your community and what action was taken by the authorities if you reported it.
It can be completed at www.northyorkshire-pfcc.gov.uk/drugssurvey until 1pm on Monday, 11 November. The results will then be collated and presented by Julia at the Summit so a frank and open discussion can be had about what more can be done by working together.

The Yorkshire Arboretum is hosting a new exhibition by acclaimed artist and printmaker Mark Hearld, drawing inspiration from the site’s spectacular autumn colour. York-based artist Mark, who studied at the Glasgow School of Art, with an MA in Natural History Illustration at the Royal College of Art, has produced a series of new pieces in his recognisable style.

Much of Mark’s practice stems from his love of the British countryside and its inhabitant wildlife – he paid a visit to the arboretum in late October, studying the variety of colours, shapes and textures found amongst the trees and landscape of the 120-acre site to inform his new works.

Yorkshire Arboretum Director Dr John Grimshaw said: “Mark’s work is distinct in its application of colour, and is the perfect companion to the glory of the trees at this time of year. These new pieces will allow our visitors a chance to view the arboretum’s autumn through the eyes of one of Yorkshire’s great artists.”

The exhibition will run from Saturday 16th to Saturday 30th November in the Visitor Centre, with original pieces on display and for sale throughout.