Westonbirt ablaze with Autumn colour!

16/07/2008

 New England or Old England? Why fly halfway round the world and clock up those air miles when one of the world's finest autumn spectacles is on the doorstep at Westonbirt - The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire.

 

From around mid-October into November, Westonbirt's Japanese maples - Britain's largest collection - are a riot of colour. At this 600- acre tree garden, a world of trees and shrubs has been brought together in one glorious place, and at this time of the year the Persian ironwoods and American smoke bushes put on an equally colourful show.

 

As the season progresses new trees get in on the act. Ironwoods change  from yellow and orange in to deep plum purple, hickories turn to gold and by late October the fiery red Japanese maples are the undisputed stars. In the Old Arboretum, Acer Glade is the traditional autumn 'Mecca' but now annual 'leaf-peepers' are increasingly heading for the National Collection of Japanese maples in Silk Wood. In all, about 350 cultivated varieties create a dazzling display.

 

 Hugh Angus, Westonbirt's Head of Tree Collections, said: "Autumn is the crescendo of the four seasons - think of a colour and one of our trees will be displaying it somewhere. This seasonal spectacle never fails to raise my spirits."

 

For keen autumn watchers, a regular blog will chart the progress of this seasonal colour, and the weekly 'hotspots' at the national arboretum can be found at the first link below.

 

To catch all the highlights of the season, take the Westonbirt autumn trail - simply pick up a trail leaflet at the Great Oak Hall on arrival.

 

And for an instant update of where to watch Autumn across the UK, visit the second link.

 

Westonbirt Arboretum is managed by the Forestry Commission. It is open  all year round - from 9am-5pm. During autumn, admission to the whole  arboretum is £8 for adults (£7 concessions), £2 for children (18yrs and under). Annual membership is also available.

 

Westonbirt Arboretum is three miles south west of Tetbury on the A433 (Tetbury to Bath Road). It is 10 miles north east of Junction 18 of the M4, and south-east of junction 13 of the M5.