Yorkshire Arboretum Newsletter - Issue 6 - August 2015

MEMBERS NEWSLETTER
FROM THE DIRECTOR
August 2015
Visitor Centre
Possible Early
Closing
Due to wedding ceremonies
taking place at the
arboretum, it is possible that
the café and Visitor Centre
may close early on the
following dates:
8th and 31st August
19th and 26th September
Please note that access to
the arboretum will not be
affected by wedding
ceremonies or any early
closure of the Centre
EMAIL
ADDRESSES
If we don’t already have
your email address on our
files please email us or
phone 01653 648598
In this issue:
From the Director 1
HRH The Prince of
Wales
2
News from the Café 2
Weddings 2
New Loos! 2
Bee Programme 3
Staff News 3
Event News 4
A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to
take a helicopter ride over the arboretum
and surroundings, which gave a completely
new perspective on a familiar scene. Most
particularly it demonstrated the
extraordinary vision Jim Russell had when he
planned and then planted the site from 1979
– the interplay of glade and grove and the
varied textures and colours of the trees so
skilfully arranged.
To carry this vision through the next few
decades we have commissioned a
masterplan from landscape architect Harry
Watkins of Rootstock. This will guide us as
we continue to develop the arboretum with
new features and new plantings, making it
even more attractive as a place to visit, while
ensuring that its unique character is
preserved.
Concurrently with this we are working on a
new Heritage Lottery Fund bid that focuses
on education, interpretation and
accessibility, promoting the Yorkshire
Arboretum’s rich heritage of trees and
biodiversity to a wider audience. This will be
submitted in early September and we’ll hear
if we’ve been lucky in November.
We already transmit our guiding
principles of inspiration, education
and conservation – however one
wishes to interpret them - through
our programme of events and
activities that run throughout the
year.
If you haven’t taken part in
anything yet do have a look at our
What’s On booklet, or search the
website for something that might
appeal to you. Many are free, including our
Members' Coffee Mornings, with
refreshments from our cafe.
The programme of activities for children is
particularly extensive this summer, with the
arboretum offering plenty of things for kids
to do in a place that parents and
grandparents can also enjoy – with the
benefit of the café’s excellent refreshments
too.
It’s not easy to keep such a large site looking
so good with limited resources, but I think
the arboretum has been looking its best ever
this spring and summer, thanks to the hard
work of our staff and volunteers.
The wildflowers have been amazing, with the
meadow mixtures sown in as part of the B-
Lines project funded by Buglife being now
well established and contributing masses of
colour and interest. These commodities are
also supplied by our now happily freeranging
peacocks and guineafowl which
bring a bustle of activity to many unexpected
spots.
John Grimshaw
director@yorkshirearboretum.org

Page 2
HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES
We were absolutely delighted to be advised by Clarence House that HRH The Prince of Wales has
chosen to renew his patronage of the arboretum. Prince Charles has been our patron since June 1998
and his ongoing support is valued enormously by the Trustees and staff.
Professor Alastair Fitter, Chair of the Board of Trustees said “The news that Prince Charles has
extended his patronage of the Trust for another 5 years is extremely welcome. His Royal Highness’
passion for the environment, conservation and horticulture is well-known and fits extremely well with
the work we do here.”
NEWS FROM THE ARBORETUM CAFÉ
The last few months have been busy ones, with our new Café Manager Emma and new team
members Harriet, Dianne, Deborah and Sharrona getting settled in. You may also notice some
new arrivals on the terrace - our ‘new’ furniture, bought at bargain price in an online auction!
We’ve increased our focus on using great quality ingredients and products from local
suppliers including coffee from York Coffee Emporium and flour for our cakes from Yorkshire
Organic Millers who mill only Yorkshire-grown wheat.
Alongside perennial favourites such as our famous cheese scones, we’re developing new
cakes (triple layer carrot cake with orange cream cheese frosting anyone?) soups (e.g. roast
mushroom, garlic, and thyme) salads and savoury tarts (roast leek, bacon and cheddar is scrummy - ed).
We’ve catered for several parties and events, which is always a fun challenge (do get in touch if you’d like to hold your next
event or party here) and we’re planning to soon offer a selection of whole cakes and desserts to take away so you can enjoy the
best arboretum baking at home. In the meantime, we look forward to welcoming you on your next visit!
WEDDINGS
We’ve been delighted to host 5 happy couples’ weddings in the Cruck House so far this year and look
forward to 5 more in the next 3 months (dates on p1).
Anna Porter, Marketing Manager, who looks after our wedding couples, said “Weddings are such joyous
occasions. It’s a pleasure to host them in the arboretum’s glorious surroundings. The team works hard to
minimise any disruption to our members and visitors, and the income is a valued addition to Trust funds.”
NEW LOOS!
Our Education Team receives consistently good feedback on its activities for visiting
school groups but consistently negative feedback on the shortage of loos! Marshalling
60-80 children through the Visitor Centre’s loos can be frustrating for them and other
users. When we received an enquiry for a visit by a whole school of 170 children we
knew we had to make alternative provision, or turn them away.
The answer was to build a set of composting loos and lots of research was undertaken
to find out the best system. A generous private donation was matched by a grant from
the sustainable development fund of the Howardian Hills AONB, enabling us to erect a
block of three cubicles. Nearby, discretely screened by a dead hedge, is a male urinal.
Situated near the outdoor classroom and woodland playground they’re available for
anyone to use when there’s no school group in the vicinity.

August 2015 Page 3
BEE PROGRAMME
On a perfect June evening the arboretum played host to the Malton and District Bee
Keepers’ Association who came along to check on the progress of our apiary.
The bees arrived at the arboretum last year when apiarist Jason Learner from the National
Bee Unit at Sand Hutton brought along several of his hives which we sited in an enclosure
around the old hornbeam.
As most people today are aware, bee populations in the UK are in decline due to modern
farming methods and loss of habitat. The arboretum is happy to be playing its part in
supporting these vital insects by hosting colonies that not only pollinate the trees and
wildflowers but also produce delicious honey - why not buy a jar next time you are in the Arboretum Shop ?
We were delighted when, towards the end of May,
our swans hatched out six cygnets, which (so far) have
successfully been brought up on and around our two
lakes. Barn Owls have also been nesting nearby and
the parents are often seen hunting for rodents over
the arboretum.
STAFF NEWS
Maurag Carmichael, Trust Administrator, stepped down in May
after playing a very important role in the history of the arboretum
for many years. Her experience and expertise will be much missed.
Trustees, colleagues and friends joined Maurag for a splendid tea
to thank her for her many years of service and to wish her well for
the future. She has become an Honorary Life Member, and we
would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who
contributed to her leaving gift – a generous acknowledgement of
how much she was appreciated.
Mathew Harrison has joined the team as Trust Administrator. He brings with
him a wealth of IT, training and office management experience and will
continue his own software consultancy alongside his arboretum role. Mathew is
based in the Portakabin, usually working on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays,
providing administrative support to the trustees, staff and members. He lives
with his family in Coneysthorpe and is a keen photographer.
We’re sorry to say goodbye to Sam Forrest
who’s been our Visitor Services Coordinator for the past 18
months. Sam’s leaving to focus on his writing career but we hope
he’ll visit often to say hello. Steve Holtsbaum and his wife have
returned to Australia and we wish them well. Amber Yorke and
Richard Murphy have joined the team to take on shared
responsibility for the Visitor Services role. Do pop in to say hello
to them on your next visit.
Our database,
which
contains the
records of all
trees in the
arboretum
and Ray Wood
is now
available for
online
searches,
enabling
anyone to find
out which
trees we
grow. Have a
look at http://
yorkshirearbor
etum.org/
collection.php

Brochure design: www.marketingbyignite.com
August 2015 Page 4
EVENT NEWS
Copies of the 2015 What’s On and Children’s
Activities brochures, showing all events taking
place this season, are available from the Visitor
Centre. Summer highlights include:
ARBORETUM EXPLORERS’ CLUB
10am – 3pm £15 per child
(includes lunch). Booking
essential please.
Intrepid explorers aged 6-11
can spend a day discovering
the arboretum & taking part in
lots of nature-based activities.
No adults allowed! Activities
include:
Monday 10th August - making a story stick, meet
a tree, colour collection, design a tree and poetry
Monday 24th August - orienteering, shelterbuilding,
owl pellet dissection and certificate
making
Weds 5th August Pond-dipping/minibeast hunt
Weds 12th August Minibeast hunt/outdoor music
Weds 19th August Pond-dipping/shelter-building
Weds 26th August Minibeast hunt/orienteering
HAWK WALK
Sunday 23rd August 11am - 12.30pm
Enjoy a walk with a hawk following on above and
flying to your fist, then meet fascinating falcons
and owls. Interact with some amazing predators!
£40 per person
CREATURES OF THE NIGHT
Saturday 29th August
7.30 - 10pm
Celebrate the creatures of
the night with a bat-walk and
a moth-trapping event on an
after-hours arboretum walk .
Adult £10, Child £5, Family
£25
We hope this
newsletter is
useful,
informative &
helps you gain the
most from your
membership of
the Yorkshire
Arboretum.
Please send your
feedback,
together with
your photos,
stories &
suggestions for
topics you’d like
to see covered in
the next issue to:
members@
yorkshirearboretum.org
DISCOVERY DAYS
Half past the hour from
10.30am - 1.30pm £3.50
per child. Booking not
required - just drop in
and join in.
Children aged 4-11 can
discover the natural
world during these hourlong
sessions:
STARGAZING EVENING
Saturday 5th September 7.30 - 10.30pm
Explore the wonders of the night sky, including
star clusters, nebulae & galaxies. Soup &
sandwich supper included. Adult £12, Child £7.50,
Family £35
And don’t forget our FREE weekly tours run
by volunteer guides - 1.30pm every
Thursday, April to October!
‘SCOTLAND AND NORTHUMBERLAND GARDENS’ TOUR - OCTOBER 2015
We’re planning an excursion tour in October. Our provisional itinerary is:
Wednesday 14th October
8am - Depart the arboretum
Afternoon - Dawyck Botanic Garden, Peebleshire
Overnight - Edinburgh
Thursday 15th October
Morning - Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
Afternoon - Edinburgh at leisure
Overnight - Edinburgh
Friday 16th October
Morning - Howick Hall Gardens, Northumberland
Afternoon - Return to the arboretum
Full details to follow and dependent on numbers. Expressions of interest at this
stage to visit@yorkshirearboretum.org or on 01653 648598 by
Friday 4th September please.
VOLUNTEERS
WANTED
If you’d like to
help us care for
and develop the
arboretum,
perhaps you’d like
to join our
volunteer team?
We’re currently
looking for lovely
folk to help with
everything from
administration to
research and from
weeding to
weddings! Please
look at the roles
available on the
website or
contact volunteer@
yorkshirearboretum.org
Castle Howard
York
YO60 7BY
p: 01653 648598
e: members@yorkshirearboretum.org
w: www.yorkshirearboretum.org
The Yorkshire Arboretum is indebted to the many talented photographers whose work illustrates these pages.
All photos & illustrations remain © of their respective copyright owners & are used with permission.