The Forestry Commission's National Arboretum at Westonbirt is celebrating the opening of a new propagation facility that will give its young trees a better start in life.
Funded by the Friends of Westonbirt Arboretum, the charity that supports the Forestry Commission at Westonbirt, the new unit will improve the care given to seedlings and young trees. Two new polytunnels, a standing down area and shade house make up the facility.
Mark Ballard, Curator at Westonbirt Arboretum, commented:
"The new facilities are befitting of a National Arboretum. The area layout will give our team more time to spend on planning and development and allow better control of plant health and bio-security. All this will benefit our world-famous tree collection."
For the first time, visitors will be able to get up close and personal with Westonbirt's vital propagation work. Exciting interpretation and guided tours will show how Westonbirt collects, grows and cares for its trees, and how it has done this for over 150 years.
Learning and Participation Manager, Ben Oliver, commented:
"Visitors are always interested in the stories behind our trees. The new propagation area provides a fantastic opportunity for visitors to get a sneak preview of our specimens of the future and discover the ground breaking techniques we use to look after them."
The new propagation unit is located next to the historic Victorian Keeper's Cottage, where in the 1920s to 1940s the arboretum's first curator W.J. Mitchell lived and wrote his diaries about managing the tree collection.
An official opening will take place on 23 August and visitors to Treefest (25-27 August) can join special guided tours of the facility. Visitors can find out more at the Great Oak Hall over the event.
Find out more about Westonbirt Arboretum at www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
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