The arboretum will be closed Sunday 9th February to Tuesday 11th February, including members’ hours from 8am, due to expected high winds. The arboretum will reopen for members-only entry on Wednesday 12th February from 10am. Should the forecast change during the period of closure, another communication will be issued accordingly.
We apologise for any inconvenience, and look forward to seeing members back on Wednesday.
The Yorkshire Arboretum
The Yorkshire Arboretum was due to open on Saturday 1st February to members only, but has announced today that it will be closed owing to the forecast high winds for this Saturday.
The Arboretum will open to general visitors (i.e. non-members) from March.
The latest (January 2020) Arboretum newsletter can be read here.
| Tree Health Centre Development Preparations for the construction of the Tree Health Centre are underway and we are keen to keep you updated. Throughout 2020 we will be publishing regular blog entries on our website as new milestones are reached. These will of course be shared across our social media channels, and we hope you will join us every step of the way. We have been very fortunate in raising sufficient funds to enable us to go ahead with construction of the Tree Health Centre, but to realise this important project fully we need further financial support. We are seeking another £150,000 and are actively working to raise this, but any help you can give would be most welcome. This might be in the form of a donation or a recommendation of a potential funding source – please do get in touch if you feel you are able to contribute in some way. Supporters of the arboretum have been extremely generous so far, donating £10,000 towards our target, for which we’re extremely grateful. For further information, or how you can help, please visit the Tree Health Centre website. |
| Open Gardens 2020 Our 2020 Open Gardens programme is shaping up to be our biggest to date, with 23 gardens opening from April through to September. We also have a very special tour of York Museum Gardens for season ticket holders on 9th July, and our annual plant sale at the arboretum on 7th June. Keep an eye on our website and on future newsletters for updates. Tickets will be on sale early in the season, with our annual Open Gardens leaflet also available. |
| And Finally… Please do continue to follow us on social media. We will be active throughout the winter and keeping you up to date with new and exciting plans for our next season. We look forward to welcoming you back on 1st March 2020, when the Visitor Centre will reopen with full café service. Yorkshire Arboretum Members can enjoy members’ entry from 1st February 2020, but the Visitor Centre and café will not be open during this time. |
Healthy trees for a healthy future
The Yorkshire Arboretum, located near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, has raised funds to build the UK’s first purpose-built facility to expand public awareness about the threats to our trees posed by an increasing number of pests and diseases, and the need to keep our trees as healthy as possible. Funding for the project has come from the Peter Sowerby Foundation, the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund and £286,000 of the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding (YNYER) LEP. Construction is expected to begin in July this year.
The Tree Health Centre will offer training courses given by specialists and cater to all levels of expertise. The large and diverse collection of trees at the Yorkshire Arboretum, its location, reputation and connections with plant health professionals, make it ideal for this purpose. Following successful pilot courses held in 2018, the centre will offer training on a commercial basis mixing classroom, lab and outdoor learning settings, as well as a public outreach programme.
Yorkshire Arboretum Director Dr John Grimshaw says: “Our trees are threatened by an unprecedented array of pests and pathogens. Protecting our trees has never been more important – everyone is a stakeholder in tree health, from private householders with a back garden tree to the Highways Agency and councils. All need to know how to maintain healthy trees, or identify and manage those affected by pests and disease. The government has identified a significant skills shortage in the field, and this lack of understanding around biosecurity has contributed to the current crisis. The Tree Health Centre is of vital importance in the promotion of healthy trees for a healthy future.”
Beverley-based SALT Architects were commissioned to design the building: a single-storey structure adjacent to the arboretum’s existing visitor centre. Yorkshire Arboretum Chief Operating Officer Mathew Harrison says that the centre “is the realisation of our core strategy and values. It is a chance for us to create strong links with tree health experts in a professional capacity, and raise awareness of the critical issues of tree health with our visitors and the wider public.”
Sir William Worsley, Britain’s national Tree Champion, said “I regard tree health as a critical issue to be addressed, and believe that the Tree Health Centre at the Yorkshire Arboretum will be a major force in raising public awareness and knowledge of this vital subject.”
Dr Ruth Smith, chair of YNYER LEP’s Skills and Employability Board, said “Our natural environment plays a vital role in our social and economic health as a region. It is crucial that we have the skills available to protect Yorkshire landscapes and contribute to securing tree health in the UK and beyond. LEP funding will ensure that this vital, specialist knowledge centre will build the capacity in the region to protect tree health and lead the way for others, raising the profile of this critical issue.”
The picture above shows (L-R) Prof Alastair Fitter, Dr Helen Crews, Dr Charles Lane, Dr Julie Lane, Dr John Grimshaw, Lord Gardiner, Prof Nicola Spence, Collection Manager Jonathan Burton.
Friday 17 and Saturday 18 May, 10am-4pm, Yorkshire Arboretum at Castle Howard
Free entry to the Arboretum for anyone who lives in the YO postcode area. Enjoy the Arboretum in Spring and see what’s on offer. Bring proof of your address such as driving licence or water bill.
More on events here: http://www.yorkshirearboretum.org/blog/2019-events-programmes
