South West - Gloucestershire

The 600 acre arboretum is home to 3,000 different species of trees and over 16,000 individual specimens. Westonbirt Arboretum is a place of environmental and historical importance.

Its Victorian creator Robert Holford was fascinated by rare and beautiful plants and helped finance expeditions to collect specimens from around the world. Westonbirt offers an unforgettable day out in all seasons - from the magnolias and rhododendrons in spring, the green leafy glades in summer and the autumnal colour explosion of the world famous Japanese maples.

Events, workshops and family activities run throughout the year. Signature events include Treefest in August and the spectacular Enchanted Christmas illuminated trail in November and December. Free weekend guided walks are available (Easter to October).

There are mobility scooters and manual wheelchairs available to borrow (it is advisable to book these in advance), special group rates on request and retail and refreshment opportunities onsite. Dogs are welcome in Silk Wood and on the Downs, whilst the Old Arboretum is a dog free zone. 

EVENTS FOR 2013 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

Exhibition: Rural Reflections
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Saturday 9 - Saturday 16 February
10am - 4pm daily excluding Saturday 16, opening 10am - 2pm
A return visit by the Eeles family of potters from Dorset - David, Patricia, Benjamin and Simon - with their beautiful ceramics by including wood fired stoneware, porcelain and raku.
Free after admission
Contact 01308 868257 or eelespottery@aol.com for further details or visit www.eelespottery.co.uk

Whatever the weather
Family Event
Tuesday 12 - Thursday 14 February
10.30am - 4pm
Discover how trees survive in all sorts of weather; freezing cold, hot and dry, wet and windy!
Free after admission

Easter Challenge
Family Event
Tuesday 26 - Friday 29 March
10.30am - 4pm
Can you answer our Easter riddle and discover our spring surprise? All correct entries receive a sweet tree treat…
Free after admission

Exhibition: The Art of Trees
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Wednesday 27 March - Tuesday 2 April
10am - 4pm daily excluding Tuesday 2nd, opening 10am -12pm
A stunning collection of botanical drawings from Westonbirt  Arboretum, Bedgebury Pinetum and elsewhere by botanical artists Christine Battle, Peak Bostock, Linda Compton-McDonald and others.
Free after admission
Contact 01179 322037 or battle@globalnet.co.uk for further details or visit www.christinebattle.co.uk and www.lindacomptonmcdonald.co.uk

All things great and small
Family Event
Tuesday 2 - Thursday 4 April
10.30am-4pm
Enter the realm of giants and tiny micro-worlds. Discover tree champions and the incredible hidden processes that help trees to survive.
Free after admission

Exhibition: The Crowd
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Wednesday 1 - Tuesday 8 May
10am - 4pm daily, excluding Wednesday 1, opening 12pm – 4pm and Tuesday 8, opening 10am - 3pm.
A return visit by 'The Crowd' with a spectacular show of new mixed work in in oil, watercolour, acrylic and pastel including landscapes, flowers, woodlands, pastoral, seascapes and drawings.
Free after admission
Contact 07790 299018 or s.gilmorepowell@virginmedia.com for further details or visit www.stephencliftonart.co.uk or www.susannagilmorepowell.co.uk

Exhibition: Work in Glass
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Saturday 25 - Friday 31 May
10am - 4pm daily, excluding Saturday 25, opening 12pm – 4pm and Friday 31, opening 10am-2pm.

Bug world
Family Event
Tuesday 28 - Thursday 30 May
10.30am-4pm
Discover the creepy crawlies that live at Westonbirt and their remarkable relationships with our trees.
Free after admission

Forest Live concerts
Summer 2013
June 21, 22, 23 and July 19, 20, 21
Check the website for updates and announcements at www.forestry.gov.uk/music

Forest Live - Blondie
Concert
Friday 21 June
Arena opens at 6pm, with music from approx 7.30pm.
Blondie return to Westonbirt Arboretum, supported by the Lightning Seeds.
£36 (subject to booking fee)
www.forestry.gov.uk/music

Forest Live - Paul Weller
Concert
Saturday 20 July
Arena opens at 6pm, with music from approx 7.30pm.
Having performed previously to capacity crowds in 2004 and 2009, Paul Weller said, “It will be good for me to be back in the woods. I really enjoy the unique atmosphere of these gigs as do the fans.”
£39 (subject to booking fee)
www.forestry.gov.uk/music

Forest folk
Family Event
Tuesday 30 July - Thursday 1 August
10.30am-4pm
Look closely and you’ll discover the arboretum is full of mysterious characters. Then use the arboretum for inspiration and natural ‘stuff’ to create your own woodland goblin.
Free after admission

Tree lotions
Family Event
Tuesday 6 - Thursday 8 August
10.30am-4pm
Over a quarter of all medicines have plant origins. Join us to discover tree cures for cancer, bird flu, sunburn and memory loss! Then have a go at making your own astronaut cream.
Free after admission

Trees for time travellers
Family Event
Tuesday 13 - Thursday 15 August
10.30am-4pm
A lot can happen in the lifetime of a tree! Travel back to when all our trees were young to discover how Westonbirt started, daring plant hunters and a passion for plants. Then explore the future and meet some of our rising tree stars.
Free after admission

Wooden wonders
Family Event
Friday 23 - Monday 26 August
10.30am-4pm
Taking place as part of Treefest. Forget oil, concrete and steel… discover how wood makes the world go round! Then make your own wood products.
Free after admission

Exhibition: Cotswold Guild of Craftsmen
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Tuesday 20 - Thursday 29 August
10am - 4pm daily, excluding Tuesday 20, opening 12pm – 4pm and Thursday 29, opening 10am-2pm
More details on www.fowa.org.uk/news_and_events/great_oak_hall_events
Free after admission

Exhibition: A Natural Selection
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Tuesday 8 - Sunday 13 October
10am - 4pm daily, excluding Tuesday 8, opening 12pm – 4pm and Sunday 13, opening 10am-2pm
More details on www.fowa.org.uk/news_and_events/great_oak_hall_events
Free after admission

Exhibition: Inspired by Nature
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Tuesday 15 - Sunday 22 October
10am - 4pm daily excluding Sunday 22, opening 10am - 2pm
Stunning new work by two Cotswold artists Clarissa Lloyd and Grahame Tucker, who is making a return visit to the Great Hall.
Free after admission
Contact 01242 680132 or grahame.tucker@hotmail.co.uk for further details or visit www.clarissasgallery.co.uk and www.grahametucker.co.uk

Exhibition: Autumnal Inspiration
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Tuesday 22 - Sunday 27 October
10am - 5pm daily excluding Sunday 27, opening 10am – 2pm
An autumnal exhibition of ceramics by our favourite family of potters David, Patricia, Benjamin and Simon Eeles.
Free after admission
Contact 01308 868257 or eelespottery@aol.com for further details or visit www.eelespottery.co.uk

Inspired by autumn
Family Event
Monday 28 October - Friday 1 November
10.30am-4pm
Be inspired by our spectacular autumn colours and create your own art. There will be a different art activity each day – so why not come more than once!
Free after admission

Exhibition: mixed media art, furniture, jewellery and photography
Great Oak Hall exhibition
Monday 28 October - Sunday 3 November
10am - 4pm daily, excluding Tue 29, opening 12pm - 4pm and Sun 3, opening 10am - 2pm
A return visit by the creative Crawford family - Helen, Gilbert, Sean and Rebecca Crawford - with Peter Lanyon, after a hugely successful 2012 exhibition.
Free after admission
Contact 01531 650386 or helenannecrawford@btinternet.com for further details.

Autumn Food Fair
Saturday 9 - Sunday 10 November
10am-4pm
More details on www.fowa.org.uk/news_and_events/great_oak_hall_events
Free after admission

Reindeer trail
Family Trail
Sunday 1 - Monday 23 December
10am-4pm
Discover the reasons behind many of our festive traditions and help Santa find his missing reindeer. Pick up for free trail from the Great Oak Hall.
Free after admission