Blog - Education & Learning

The Silk Wood Community Planting Project has always been about more than simply planting trees. At its heart, the project is about people, partnership, and creating opportunities for everyone to connect with nature in meaningful ways.

As spring moves towards early summer, May brings a noticeable shift across the landscape. Hedgerows thicken, and woodland canopies begin to close. Hawthorn becomes one of the most recognisable trees at this time of year, covering roadsides and field boundaries with dense white blossom.

Find out how Westonbirt is working with NatureMetrics to uncover the invisible life within the soil using eDNA?...

This is your one stop to discover everything you won’t want to miss at Westonbirt this April…...

Spring is gathering pace as Westonbirt shifts into a vibrant phase with longer days and warmer temperatures.

A new blog series looking at cultural traditions and folklore surrounding trees and woodlands.

UK native tree species in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project – this month is the Common Hornbeam...

See what's on and make a resolution to make the most of your Membership this new year!...

Thanks to Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum (FOWA) members, we were able to help fund transport for a very special wellbeing day at Westonbirt Arboretum.

At the Silkwood Community Planting Project, groups come together to volunteer their time, planting and caring for trees. Swindon Mind, has become frequent visitors to the project, spending time in nature to promote mental wellbeing.

Each month we’re bringing you a profile of one of the UK’s native tree species in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project – this month it’s the Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa).

The Silk Wood Community Planting Project Team (SWCPPT) introduce a new technique that will shape the way they plant trees and create resilient woodlands.

This month’s native tree is the Wild Service Tree (Sorbus torminalis), an indicator of ancient woodlands and one of the UK’s rarest natives.

As autumn settles over Silk Wood, the modest Field Maple, Britain’s only native maple, takes the spotlight. Its golden leaves light up the paths as dramatically as exotic maples elsewhere. Learn more about this humble native, another one of the newly planted species by our community project in Silk Wood.

As the days shorten and the leaves begin their magnificent transformation, September is the perfect time to visit Westonbirt and take full advantage of your membership benefits. With a stunning array of activities, from tranquil walks to hands-on workshops, there's a unique experience waiting for you around every corner.