Blog - Features

Arboretum Director Andrew Smith tells us about his week on a bus-man's holiday down at Westonbirt Woodworks, learning to craft a chair from scratch using traditional techniques.

Our new saw mill has finally arrived in the UK after making its long journey from Poland and will be in situ at Westonbirt very soon!...

As the days begin to draw in and the mornings cast a chill in the air, you can sense the change of season. It’s a time of transition at the arboretum. Many trees are in glorious autumn colour and animals are busy preparing winter stores.

Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy longer days out and about in our glorious countryside. After the abundance of new life in spring, the summer brings a sense of tranquillity and rhythm as plants and animals enjoy the warmer months.

Penny Jones, our Propagator at Westonbirt, provides an update on an exciting new season of planting for the arboretum.

In the last edition of the magazine Penny talked us through seed selection, collection and germination at Westonbirt.

Bright mornings, longer days and the singing of the morning chorus are a sure sign that spring is well and truly on the way! It’s nature’s show-time and the arboretum is full of the colours, sounds and energy of new life.

Penny Jones is the Propagator at Westonbirt. Her knowledge, understanding and passion for seed propagation has produced hundreds of healthy saplings, which are planted at the arboretum.

Trees provide an ideal home and vital resources for lots of wildlife. Honorary Research Fellow School of Biological Sciences University of Bristol, David Hill, tells us about these incredible fungi.

As winter draws in around us, the trees and wildlife of the arboretum prepare for the long haul to spring. It’s a lovely time to explore and there’s always plenty to look out for.

In 2012 we received fantastic news. We had been awarded a £1.9 million Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant towards Phase One of the Westonbirt Project, which would bring significant improvements to the arboretum and our visitors’ experience.

Jane Gifford is a professional photographer. She tells us how her first encounter with Westonbirt helped her to burst onto the national scene.