Westonbirt, the National Arboretum


Last updated: 22 November 2022 - this entry is more than a year old, for details on how to update click here

PlantNetwork member
Address and contact details
Forestry Commission, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8QS
Tel: 01666 880220
Fax: 01666 880559
Email: westonbirt@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
Web site: www.forestry.gsi.gov.uk/westonbirt
Latitude: 51° 36' 25" N
Longitude: 02° 13' 12" W
Background to the collection
Year founded:1829
Ownership:Forestry Commission
Garden code:WESB
Umbrella organisation:PlantNetwork, Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Forestry Commission, National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens
Personnel
Director: Simon Toomer
Curator: Mark Ballard
Contact person: Mark Ballard
Total Staff:30
Total Horticultural Staff:10
Policies
Accessions:Yes
Collections:Yes
Physical environment
Altitude:120 m
Soil type:Loam, alkaline and acid
Aspect:Mostly flat
Total area:240 ha
Other sites of collection:Bedgebury National Pinetum
Weather recordsRecords kept
Temperature
Average daily:9.3 °C
Av. monthly max:21.7 °C
Av. monthly min:0.5 °C
Absolute maximum:34.0 °C (1990)
Absolute minimum:-12.5 °C (1987)
Wind
Direction:South and west
Strength:Average
Rainfall
Average annual:840 mm
Month of maximum:December
Month of minimum:April
Plant collection
Families:105
Genera:311
Species:1882
Taxa:2817
Plants:16,000
Special families within the collections:
Pinaceae, Aceraceae, Betulaceae, Cornaceae, Fagaceae, Aquifoliaceae, Magnoliaceae, Tiliaceae
Special genera within the collections:
Abies, Acer, Betula, Cornus, Fagus, Fraxinus, Ilex, Magnolia, Picea
Special collections:
Acer (Japanese cultivars) NCCPG
Acer spp. NCCPG
Staphylea spp. NCCPG
Tilia (hardy spp.) NCCPG
Juglandaceae NCCPG
Record Keeping:Kept since 1988
Computerised
Record System:Access
Mapping: Arcview GIS
Plant-collecting trips:Yes
Facilities on site
Herbarium:No
Library:Yes, but no public access
Research facilities:No
Publications:Garden guide, guide map, Access to plant list and map via website
Teaching and Education:Primary, secondary, higher.
Interpretation:Supervised garden walks, signs, brochures, guided trails
Friends Organisation:Yes
Visitor facilities:Café, plant shop, shop, restaurant, information point
Access to the collections
Access conditions:Some dog restricted areas.
Public access:Admission charge
Visitors per year:350,000
Public opening hours:Mon-Sun: 9am-dusk
Guiding principles behind the collection
Mission statement: 'To connect people with trees to improve the quality of life'
Location map

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