Arboretum Cafe Reopens - Attains 'We're Good to Go' Industry Standard Mark

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The Yorkshire Arboretum reopened its popular café on Friday 17th July. The Arboretum Café is now open 11am-4pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a revised menu and processes in place to maintain cleanliness and social distancing. Earlier this month the arboretum applied to The National Tourism Organisations of Great Britain & Ireland and, following a risk assessment review, was granted the ‘We’re Good to Go’ COVID-19 Industry Standard mark. The mark is recognition of the arboretum’s adherence to government and industry COVID-19 guidelines – a one-way flow system is in place with clear, easy-to-follow signposting. Hand sanitiser stations are in place at the arboretum entrance, in the Visitor Centre and at the café counter.

Arboretum Director Dr John Grimshaw said: “We know how much the Arboretum Café is valued and enjoyed by so many people, and it gives us great pleasure to see it open again. We hope the ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark and cleanliness measures ensure visitors feel confident in visiting again. The arboretum looks particularly spectacular this summer, and the café terrace is still the place to take in the views while indulging your taste buds. Our revised menu sees a great many of your old favourites returning, and our delectable homemade cakes are as good as ever!”

The Arboretum Café is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm, extending to include Mondays and Thursdays from August.

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The Yorkshire Arboretum reopens – offers spacious, safe days out for the whole family

The Yorkshire Arboretum reopened on 8th June, offering 120 acres of peace and tranquillity on the historic Castle Howard estate. With COVID-19 lockdown restrictions easing, the arboretum is a perfect place to escape to and experience outstanding natural beauty safely. With sweeping vistas, wildflower meadows and peace hidden glades to explore, the Yorkshire Arboretum offers visitors a taste of the natural world away from these uncertain and troubling times.

The arboretum has adapted to the necessity of restricting the spread of Covid-19 by introducing new visiting times and an online booking system, as well as a new reception cabin and a one-way flow system to ensure social distancing; sadly the Visitor Centre and Arboretum Café are still closed.  General admission is from 12-4pm daily; exclusive entry for arboretum members is 10am-12pm. Booking visits in advance is easy using the arboretum’s new online booking facility, which is available at: www.yorkshirearboretum.org/admission-booking

Yorkshire Arboretum Director, Dr John Grimshaw, said: “I am delighted to see the arboretum open and full of life again after the strange quiet of the past few months. It’s lovely to chat to returning visitors and members, and to hear how much they’re enjoying being here in such a safe and secure environment. Our vast lawns are perfect for picnicking with your family, and at the moment the wildflower meadows are at their peak, full of flowers including lots of wild orchids – or look for the huge numbers of tiny baby toads emerging from the lake. There’s something to inspire everyone here- and plenty of space to explore.”

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CHANGING CHAIRS

After nine years, Professor Alastair Fitter CBE, FRS, has stood down as Chair of the Castle Howard Arboretum Trust at a recent board meeting held by Zoom. Following tributes and thanks for his dedicated service to the Trust Alastair was presented with a painting of an arboretum scene by artist-in-residence Meg Huby. Following an advertising and application process, the Trust has appointed Greville Worthington as new Chair. Until recently Greville was Chair of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, but he has a keen interest in trees, growing many maples and bamboos at his home near Catterick

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Covid-19 Update

Following the publication of the government's gradual roadmap out of lockdown we are working on plans to gradually re-open the arboretum to all. We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone back, but at the moment and in line with government advice for outdoor leisure venues we remain closed.

We’re sure you will understand that the safety of our staff, volunteers, members and visitors is our priority. We’ll be updating our website with more information on how and when we’ll be able to open in due course, so please check before trying to visit. Take care, thank you for your patience and support.


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Open Gardens Online

This weekend Weathervane House in Seaton Ross would have opened as part of our open garden events. Peter Williams has produced this wonderfully calming and tranquil film and we hope it brings you an opportunity to find some space for peace and quiet during these challenging times.

Peter & Julie Williams’ large woodland garden with acid loving plants including rhododendrons, azaleas, magnolias and other interesting shrubs. Spring bulbs including
trilliums, flowering trees and shade tolerant herbaceous perennials. Well-stocked glasshouse and large polytunnel with wide range of plants propagated from seeds, cuttings and grafting.
Meadow area and woodland home to owls, goldcrests and sparrow hawks.
#Yorarb #opengardens #Yorkshire

Open Gardens Online

Yesterday Paddock Cottage in Westow should have opened as part of our Open Gardens program. Here Helen & Colin Crews have composed a virtual photographic tour, showing off their wonderful garden under a beautiful April sky.

Helen and Colin Crews have a small cottage
garden with views across countryside and
attractive mixed borders and a wide range
of plants in both sunny and shaded areas. In
particular in late spring and early summer
there are hellebores, Meconopsis and Iris.
There are also raised vegetable plots, two small
glasshouses and a fishpond.

We hope it brings you some joy!

#yorarb #opengardens #yorkshire

Open Gardens Online

Continuing our series of virtual garden tours, from the wonderful garden owners who would have opened their gardens over the coming months to raise funds for the Yorkshire Arboretum’s tree and woody plant collection.

This video, kindly created by Peter Young showcasing The Poplars in Newton upon Derwent. Around the house ad barns Peter and Christina Young have created densely planted gardens that included many unusual and tender plants, as well as fruit and vegetable gardens. At the far end of the five acre property, around a large wildlife pond, they have established an arboretum which now has almost 200 woody species.
The Poplars was scheduled to open in July, here Peter showcases the garden in the wonderful spring weather. We hope you enjoy!

#yorabr #opengardens #yorkshire

Open Gardens Online

We are delighted to be able to bring you a series of virtual garden tours, from the wonderful garden owners who would have opened their gardens over the coming months to raise funds for the Yorkshire Arboretum’s tree and woody plant collection.

This weekend would have seen the opening of Fossgyl, Alastair Fitter’s long 1 acre garden stretching from Huntington Road to the River Foss. There are perennials, alpines, a peat-free ‘peat’ garden, a woodland garden, a traditional orchard with 85 year old trees mixed with more recently planted specimen trees and shrubs, a meadow with fritillaries in spring and orchids in summer, and wet woodland by the river with oxlips in spring and a large new pond. There are more than 1,000 species of plant in the garden, including 250 natives.

Alastair has filmed and narrated the video-blog below over the past few days, highlighting some of the fantastic spring plantings . We hope that this brings you some joy at this difficult time for us all.

Update on Arboretum Events

Due to the increased severity of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, we regret to inform you that all 2020 events, including our Open Gardens programme, have been cancelled until further notice.

Our Open Gardens programme is very popular, and an important means of fundraising - with proceeds funding new planting at the arboretum. In line with the programme dates, we will be hosting Virtual Open Gardens on our website and social media, so that you can still experience the best of what our 2020 programme online. These entries will features images of each garden, along with notes on the owners' favourite plantings.We will continue to update you on arboretum activities through social media and our web blog, so do stay in touch!

Stay in touch on social media, and check our website regularly for updates.

Spring Walk Bingo

With the weather improving, and our collective need to experience nature and get fresh air and exercise greater than ever, Spring Walk Bingo is the perfect accompaniment to your strolls!

See how many things you can tick off, and let us know how you get on by hashtagging #yorarb on social media! Download your Spring Walk Bingo sheet below:

COVID-19 Update

To all our visitors,

The Yorkshire Arboretum is now closed until further notice as part of UK efforts to tackle the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. The safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers is of utmost importance to us, which is why we have had to make the difficult decision to close until further notice.

This decision will help support the Government and Public Health England’s advice on social distancing. Our team will continue to care for the trees and landscape of the arboretum so that whenever it is possible, we can welcome all our visitors, members and volunteers back to enjoy this wonderful place.

As a registered charity the Trust is dependent on its own resources and the valued support of visitors, members and volunteers alike. We will be in touch with all of our members directly in the next few days.

Stay updated: www.yorkshirearboretum.org/blog

Thank you

The Yorkshire Arboretum team

Kids' Activities for Home Schooling

For those of you with children who are self-isolating, we would like to support you with some practical ideas for home schooling and family activities.

This handy guide not only contains a range of simple, fun learning activities, but also links to other resources and local visitor attractions offering walks and fresh air for you and your children.

Please note that the suggested attractions offering walks are now closed.

Download your leaflet by clicking the image below:

Statement on coronavirus from The Yorkshire Arboretum

To all our visitors,

In light of the uncertainties we face with the outbreak of COVID-19, we want to reassure you the Yorkshire Arboretum is taking all precautions necessary to help keep you, our visitors, and our employees safe and healthy. The Yorkshire Arboretum is fortunate to be an outdoor attraction, where fresh air, open spaces and natural tranquillity can still be enjoyed by all. Our 120 acres are yours to explore – stroll through the trees or round the lake, catch the first signs of spring, or even try to spot the local wildlife! The arboretum can be accessed from the members’ gate to the left of the Visitor Centre, 10am-3pm.

Until further notice, the arboretum is open FREE TO ALL. If you would like to contribute, we suggest a £5 donation, but anything you can give will make a difference to our long term survival at this difficult time for everyone. An honesty box will be fixed to the members’ gate over the next week, and a QR code will be available to scan if you would like to give digitally. If you would like to donate online, please follow the link below.

Our visitors’ wellbeing is our top priority, and we want you to feel confident that we are doing everything we can to ensure your safety.

-        The Visitor Centre, including the toilets, is closed until further notice

-        The Arboretum Café is closed until further notice

-        For your safety, a member of staff will be on site at and available in the Visitor Centre or Cabin Office

We want to continue giving you a safe, enjoyable and calming environment to visit. The Yorkshire Arboretum is a special place, and is still yours to explore.

Thank you

The Yorkshire Arboretum team

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Hobson and Porter Begin Work on UK's First Dedicated Tree Health Centre

Yorkshire & Lincolnshire based construction firm Hobson & Porter Ltd have won the contract to build the UK’s first Tree Health Centre. The Yorkshire Arboretum, located near Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, has raised funds to build and operate the UK’s first purpose-built facility to expand public awareness about the threats to our trees posed by an increasing number of pests and diseases, and the need to keep our trees as healthy as possible. Capital funding for the project has come from the Peter Sowerby Foundation, £286,000 of the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership (YNYER LEP) and from private donations. Start up and operating funding has come from The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.

Designed by SALT Architects of Beverley, East Yorkshire, the Tree Health Centre will offer training courses given by specialists and cater to all levels of expertise. Following successful pilot courses held in 2018, the centre will offer training on a commercial basis mixing classroom, lab and outdoor learning settings, as well as a public outreach programme.

Yorkshire Arboretum Chief Operating Officer Mathew Harrison says: “We are delighted to announce Hobson & Porter Ltd as building contractors for the Tree Health Centre. The company has strong links across Yorkshire with a proven track record of delivering third sector projects – they are keen to promote environmental preservation, and we believe their approach matches our core strategy and values.”

Sam Alexander, chair of YNYER LEP’s Skills and Employability Board, said: “The natural environment plays a vital role in our social and economic health as a region. It is crucial we have the skills available to protect Yorkshire landscapes and contribute to tree health in the UK and beyond. With the help of funding secured by the LEP, this specialist knowledge centre will build the capacity in the region to protect tree health and lead the way for others. We’re pleased to see the project reach this latest milestone.”

Minister for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, Jake Berry, said: “We’re deeply committed to boosting economic growth and levelling up our communities across the North and the Midlands.

“It’s great to hear that thanks to over £285,000 from the Local Growth Fund, the UK’s first Tree Health Centre is being built right here in the Northern Powerhouse and will safeguard the region’s natural environment for future generations to come.”

Arboretum Director John Grimshaw said ‘We’ve been planning this building for ages, and it’s so exciting to see works starting at last. We look forward to delivering sound advice on the management of healthy trees for a healthy environment – a critical issue for us all.’

Click here to download the original press release.

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