O.C. Visit to Westonbirt National Arboretum-5th June 2024

A warm sunny morning greeted the party of O.C.s, wives and friends, arriving at Westonbirt, one of the West Country’s best known and most visited attractions, and the largest arboretum in the U.K.

The site now covers around 600 acres, encompassing the original arboretum, founded by local landowners, the Holford family, but since 1956, has been under the jurisdiction of Forestry England, and now includes a substantial addition, the Silk Wood. The whole area is traversed by over 10 miles of paths and walks, many named after featured trees and species such as, Lime Avenue, Maple Loop, Cherry Glade, and Oak Avenue. Overall, the arboretum is home to over 2,500 species of trees from all corners of the world, including many threatened and endangered varieties, which are subject of commendable preservation, conservation work, and plant husbandry, based on site in the Tree Management Centre. A further large area has been left as a wild flower haven, encouraging a diverse range of insects, flowers, and birds.

On a different tangent, and presumably as a useful fund raising enterprise, Westonbirt promotes regular musical events, featuring artists such as Jools Holland, and over the next few weeks, Gregory Porter, Van Morrison, and The Corrs.

Notwithstanding the abundance of arboricultural  largesse, the O.C.’s first priority was a move to the very homely “ Kitchen“ café/restaurant for a welcome coffee, and a “catch up “ with fellow party members.

Suitably fortified, the group set off towards the Silk Wood, crossing the magnificent Tree Top Walkway, three hundred metres long, and, in places, over twenty metres above ground, permitting extensive views of the arboretum, and in the valley below, the “Woodworks” where furniture, predominantly chairs, is made using traditional tools and methods. Particularly  impressive during the ensuing perambulation of nearly two miles, were the stunning colours of an array of maple trees, the diversity of species on the “Broad Drive “, and the massive Redwoods, and Douglas Firs.

Our circular route led to a return to the “Kitchen”, for lunch chosen from a small, but excellent selection. The fine weather permitted lunch to be enjoyed on the outside patio, with southerly views across the arboretum.  Adjacent to the restaurant the “Shop” contained an extensive selection of plants and saplings for sale.

We were very pleased to be joined after lunch by O.C. Secretary Doug. Lodge and his wife Sue, for the afternoon stroll through the Old Arboretum, taking in the Wildlife Meadow, and the magnolias, and rhododendrons of the Savill Glade, before returning to the entrance (appropriately named the Welcome Building).

 After farewells, and trusting that many of the group will meet again at the O.C. Lunch Club on the 26th, we set off after, with a huge thank you to Laura, an immensely enjoyable and successful day.

Attendees; Laura Carleton, Richard and Mary Craddy, John Harris, Nick and Jane Humphries, Bob and Wendy Jennings. Doug and Sue Lodge, Martin and Wendy Tayler, Dave Tooze, and Mike and Maureen Wood.

Dave Tooze  10/6/24.