Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum

Blog - Projects

Tree of the Month: Pedunculate Oak

Supporting over 2,300 species, the oak is a true wildlife haven, hosting a diverse range of creatures from insects and birds to mammals and fungi. Its acorns provide a valuable food source for wildlife, and its timber has been used for centuries...

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Westonbirt's Brand New Play Areas! Where Families and Nature Connect...

We’re excited to announce a thrilling revamp of Westonbirt’s play areas designed to ignite a love of nature in children of all ages!...

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Woodland Design Revisited

A whirlwind of creativity! We had a blast reviewing the amazing woodland designs created by local school groups. These inspiring ideas will help shape the future of Silk Wood. Stay tuned for updates on the chosen design!...

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Identity Parade

Sun, plants, and learning! Last month, we joined a Field Studies Council course to learn how to identify woodland plants. It was a fantastic two days of exploring the beautiful Silk Wood and gaining new knowledge about our local ecosystem.

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Caring Connections

Changes Bristol recently spent a day at Westonbirt Arboretum, nurturing saplings and learning about the vital role forests play in our ecosystem. Discover how this rewarding experience benefitted both their mental well-being and the planet.

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Play at Westonbirt

Westonbirt Arboretum is set to transform its grounds with two new, accessible, and nature-inspired play zones designed by Earth Wrights. These spaces promise to be a haven for children to explore, learn, and grow, fostering a deep connection with the natural world.

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Tree of the month: Aspen

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project – this July it’s aspen.

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Tree of the month: Large-leaved lime

Each month we’re going to bring you a profile of one of the UK native tree species being planted in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project - first up is the large-leaved lime.

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Westonbirt’s Iconic Welcome Building Celebrates 10 Years

On Sunday 23 June 2024, Westonbirt marks a significant milestone: the 10th anniversary of the opening of the award-winning Welcome Building. This occasion provides a perfect moment to celebrate and reflect on the history and impact of this building over the past decade.

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First Planting Season is Complete!

It’s been a brilliant few months for us here at the Silk Wood Community Planting Project. Since January over 600 participants came to plant a grand total of 3300 trees! Despite the occasional frost and the, not so occasional, torrential rain our groups put their all into making sure each tree gets the best start and will be there in years to come.

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Unveiling the wonders of Westonbirt: The key tree plinth project

Discover the fascinating stories behind Westonbirt's trees with the new key tree plinth project, funded by the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum.

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Getting our Hands Dirty: A Tree-mendous Day at Westonbirt!

Armed with spades, smiles, and enthusiasm, we joined forces with the amazing Westonbirt staff, united by a shared passion for the environment to plant trees as part of the Silk Wood Community Planting Project.

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Planting Hope, Building Futures: 200 Trees Begin Their Journey

The Silk Wood Community Planting Project is off to a good start in 2024 with local community groups planting the first 200 trees to regenerate a section of Silk Wood at the arboretum.

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Silk Wood Community Planting Project: Baseline monitoring

Over the summer, a team of volunteers conducted a baseline survey in Silk Wood to discover which flora and fauna are present after a period of fallow following on from ash tree felling due to Chalara.

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