Spring is on the March at Westonbirt
March officially signifies the start of Spring, and the much-anticipated awakening of many of the species here at Westonbirt. It’s the perfect time to get out into the arboretum, to enjoy the season’s new buds, delicately emerging flowers, and, of course, the hours of golden light that remind us of what British seasons are all about. What’s more, the Spring Equinox (20 March) arrives this month, offering that fleeting moment when day and night stand in perfect balance, before daylight gently gains the upper hand and the days get slowly longer.
This month, winter flowers are giving way to the earliest blooms of the rhododendrons and magnolia, which paint vibrant splashes among the leaves and hum with the buzz of bumblebees. Not to be missed are the Simons Anise Tree (Illicium simonsii) and the Kobushi Magnolia (Magnolia kobus), which both produce creamy white and white flowers respectively in March and early April. Frost-permitting, the Campbell’s Magnolia (Magnolia campbellii) bears huge flowers ranging from white to deep pink, and magnolia which is a firm favourite referred to as Westonbirt Diva (Magnolia sprengeri var. diva ‘Westonbirt’) is not to be missed either.
Member Tuesdays
March is your last opportunity to bring a friend for Member Tuesdays, so make sure you make the most of it. Every Tuesday, you can bring a relative free of charge with your membership. This is the best way to share the joy of nature and the arboretum, with the people that matter most.
It’s also worth remembering that the offer is per cardholder which means that joint membership includes entry for four people, not to mention four of your children / grandchildren (age 18 or under). An added bonus when the last member Tuesday on 31 March falls during the school Easter holidays.
Discovery Walks are back every Thursday
The much-anticipated return of Westonbirt Discovery Walks is here, helping members uncover the secrets of the arboretum and learn from incredible experts. Each walk is themed:
- 5 March: The wood from trees takes you on an exploration of the species here at Westonbirt that are used for timber production. Your guide will show you the trees, their timber samples, and the everyday products that can be made with these species.
- 12 March: Silk Wood takes you on the path less travelled to discover the wonders of Westonbirt’s Ancient Woodland, which has existed for 2,000 years. This walk is also repeated on 30 April if you miss it!
- 19 March & 26 March: Magnolias takes you on a guided tour of the spectacular spring displays in full bloom, so you can enjoy them at their best.
Discovery Walks run every Thursday from March to November, leaving the welcome building at 11.30am.
In April, the seasonal topics will shift to myths & legends (2 April), bird song (9 & 23 April), the story of Westonbirt (16 April) and a return visit to Silk Wood (30 April).
If you can’t make one of the Discovery Walks, don’t forget there is a daily guided walk which leaves the Welcome Building at 11am, sharing the seasonal beauty of the Old Arboretum.
What makes a champion tree?
See some of the arboretum’s biggest trees and try some of the associated challenges and games. This guided walk takes you on a journey through the Old Arboretum to see some of the very best.
Tuesday 31 March to Thursday 2 April from 10.30am to 12pm. Pre-booking is essential: Book now.
Special Event: CaniX
Whether you have always wanted to try cross-country running with your dog, or you’d like to watch keen runners do the same, there is a Canicross (also known as CaniX) weekend on 21 & 22 March. A marked 5km route sees participants run with their dog attached via a secure harness, bungee line and waist belt.
If you’d like to try it for yourself, a limited amount of equipment is available to borrow from the event organiser (please contact them directly in advance).
Family favourites and the Easter holidays
With most Gloucestershire schools breaking up on / around Friday 27 March, Westonbirt Arboretum is the perfect place to blow off some steam and keep the whole family entertained:
- Room on the Broom trail: make the most of the recently launched interactive family trail, inspired by Julia Donaldson’s captivating story. Search for lost items and spell ingredients as you explore the Old Arboretum. Learn more.
- Test your orienteering skills and find the plant hunter control points. Scattered around the arboretum you can learn about plant hunters past and present and discover some of the species they introduced into Britain that are right here in Westonbirt’s collection. There are two courses: short course for 7-11 year olds (approx. 45 mins - 1 hour) and the long course for 11+ and adults (approx. 1 - 1.5 hours).
- Free Range Play – confidence boosting, creative, free-range play abounds at the arboretum, letting children learn their own limits within safe sanctuary. Whether free-range among the trees or taking advantage of one of the structured play areas under the canopy, there is endless excitement to be found amongst this world-class tree collection. Learn more.
- Easter holidays. Keep your eyes peeled for the dedicated holiday activities being hosted by the learning team at Westonbirt Arboretum. Seasonally-inspired activities are just around the corner, helping your children learn and explore using the nature around them.
Learn something new
- Nordic Walking: Every Tuesday and Wednesday,10:00AM - 11:15AM. Learn a new way to explore the outdoors. Learn more.
- Willow Weaving Workshop (14 March): Design and build a sculpture for your garden, a bird feeder, an abstract sculpture or willow animal! Absolute beginners welcome. Learn more.
- Forest Bathing (17 March): come and reset, release the stresses of the world, allowing nature to Nurture you, and have some quality time for you. Learn more.
- Failsafe Garden Plants (22 March): learn from the experts and gain a good understanding of how to select the right plants for your garden plus top tips to help them flourish. Learn more.
- Kintsugi Ceramics Repair (Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March, plus other dates): morning and afternoon options. Discover the Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics. Learn more.
