FREE ENTRY TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL TREE WEEK AT THE YORKSHIRE ARBORETUM

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.”