Yorkshire Arboretum Newsletter - Issue 4 - August 2014

MEMBERS NEWSLETTER
EMAIL
ADDRESSES
If we don’t already have
your email address on
our files please email us
or phone 01653 648598
EARLY
CLOSING
Due to the Castle
Howard Proms and the
associated road
closures, the arboretum
and café will close to
Members and visitors
promptly at 3pm on
Saturday 16th August
(last admission 2pm).
Castle Howard Estates
Ltd apologise for any
inconvenience caused.
In this issue:
From the Director 1
Grounds News 1
AONB Photographic
Competition
1
FROM THE DIRECTOR
It’s quite remarkable that August is already
upon us as it seems only a matter of weeks
since we reopened to our Members in
February for the 2014 season. I hope that all
of you have been enjoying the warm, sunny
days that we’ve been blessed with recently.
The collection has certainly thrived
throughout this warm, moist summer and I
hope you’ve had the chance to visit often to
see for yourselves the lovely show of trees,
shrubs and wildflowers across the
arboretum. And still we have the autumn
colour to come!
It has been a busy time for the staff and
volunteer teams on many projects across our
curatorial, education and event
programmes. Preparation work on our
Heritage Lottery Fund submission continues
GROUNDS NEWS
New pathway planned: Work will begin
shortly on laying a path from the Visitor
Centre to the new Woodland Playground.
This route has a tendency to become boggy
and unpleasant to travel in wet weather and,
as it is also used by school groups on their
way to the Outdoor Classroom, it’s
important that we make it safe and suitable
for year-round use .
The construction process used will be the
same as that of the path from the Visitor
Centre to the lake so the two will blend
quickly to give the appearance of having
always been in situ. Please bear with us
during any mess caused by the construction.
Bulb planting: In recent years we’ve
undertaken an ambitious programme of bulb
planting to add colour and texture to the
arboretum landscape. 35,000 bulbs were
August 2014
and, as the busy summer term came to an
end, our Education Team turned their
attentions to offering children’s summer
holiday activities here for the first time.
There are lots of botanical, have-a-go, and
arts & crafts events in the What’s On
programme over the coming weeks and
months for all ages to enjoy, which I hope
you’ll support and recommend to friends
and family. All proceeds go to the upkeep of
the arboretum.
As always I welcome your comments and
feedback on this newsletter or, more
generally, on the arboretum and the work
we do here. I look forward to your next visit.
John Grimshaw
director@yorkshirearboretum.org
planted in 2012 followed by another 50,000
in 2013.
This scale of planting is only possible thanks
to our wonderful volunteers who give of
their time so generously to help with this
important task. We’re looking for volunteers
to help with planting again this year so
please put the dates of Tuesday 30th
September and Thursday 2nd October in
your diaries now and let the Volunteer
Coordinators know if you’re able to help on
volunteer@yorkshirearboretum.org
Event News 2
AONB PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
Arboretum Honey 2
Amateur photographers are invited to take part in a competition to capture the
special qualities of the Howardian Hills AONB. There are junior and adult
categories, great prizes and all finalists’ work will be displayed at the arboretum
next spring. Full details are at www.howardianhills.org.uk/pages/news.asp

Brochure design: www.marketingbyignite.com
August 2014 Page 2
EVENT NEWS
Tree Climbing Experience - Sunday 24th August
Have you ever watched tree-top footage in
wildlife programmes such as BBC’s Planet Earth
and wondered “How on earth did David
Attenborough get up there?”
Well now’s your chance to find out because
Canopy Access Limited, the specialist climbing
company responsible for hoisting presenters, kit
and crew to giddy heights in locations such as
Borneo, Venezuela and Indonesia will be at the
arboretum on Sunday 24th August. Their team
will be running two tree climbing sessions to give
you a bird's eye view of the world below.
You'll be taught the basics of tree climbing and
then guided on an ascent of the arboretum’s
massive oaks. There’ll be time to enjoy the view
before moving around in the canopy and then
abseiling back down to reality.
Sessions start at 9.30am and 1.30pm, last 3 hours
and cost £65 per person. Booking is essential and
participants must be at least 12 years of age. No
climbing experience is necessary, just a moderate
degree of physical fitness, stout footwear and a
head for heights!
Children’s Summer Holiday Events continue:
Monday 18th - Arboretum Explorers’ Club
For children aged 6-11. A whole day exploring the
arboretum and enjoying lots of nature-based
activities. Lunch included. £15 per child.
Wednesday 20th - Wild World Wednesday
For children aged 4-11. Discover the natural world
during these hour-long drop-in sessions starting at
half past the hour from 10:30 – 2:30 inclusive.
This week’s activity is a minibeast hunt. Adult £6
Child £3.50 Family £15
Wednesday 27th - Wild World Wednesday
For children aged 4-11. Discover the natural world
during these hour-long drop-in sessions starting at
half past the hour from 10:30 – 2:30 inclusive.
This week’s activity is a shelter-building. Adult £6
Child £3.50 Family £15
Once the summer holidays are over there’s still
plenty of family fun to be had with Bushcraft
sessions on 14th September or perhaps join a
Hawk Walk on October 5th?
Westonbirt Visit: Thu/Fri 23rd/24th October
Join us on a 2 day visit to Westonbirt, The
National Arboretum, to see the maples & other
trees in this great collection in autumn colour. Full
details, including accommodation & pricing will be
finalised shortly but if you’re interested in joining
this visit please let us know on
members@yorkshirearboretum.org
Details of these, and all other events can be found
on the What’s On page of the arboretum website,
or just call 01653 648598.
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
We know it’s
only August but
don’t forget that
arboretum
membership &
gift vouchers
make delightful
Christmas gifts!
Available from
the Visitor
Centre.
ARBORETUM HONEY
The honey bee hives in the enclosure
under the dead hornbeam on Bracken Hill
have had a productive season and
Arboretum Honey is now available to purchase in
both the café and the Arboretum Shop.
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. These include, amongst others John Grimshaw, Harry &
Joyce Kingman. All photos & illustrations remain © of their respective copyright owners & are used with permission.